The US Department of Defense warned on Friday evening that it had detected a second Chinese spy balloon fly over Latin Americaalthough he did not provide details as to what area it is.
The news came shortly after Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his planned trip to China after authorities in that country admitted the huge balloon that appeared on US soil was theirs.
“We are receiving reports of a balloon in transit in Latin America. Now let’s estimate that it’s another Chinese surveillance balloon“Warned the Pentagon spokesman, General Patrick Ryder, although he did not specify his whereabouts.
According to China, it is a device of “civilian nature for meteorological affairs” which has deviated from its original course. However, Secretary of State officials said it was “a clear and unacceptable violation of US sovereignty.”
Despite suspicions that it is a spy device, the highest-ranking officer in the United States military and President Joe Biden’s top military adviser, Mark Milley, has recommended not shooting down the first balloon that was detected near the Montana since it did not pose a military threat.
China has asked the US to “remain calm” on the balloon flying over its territory
The director of the Chinese Foreign Office, Wang Yi, had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday evening to discuss the conflict around the balloon flying over US territory.
“China is a responsible country and has always strictly complied with international law. We do not accept any unfounded speculation,” Wang said in a statement.
And completed: “In unforeseen situations, both sides should remain calmcommunicate in time, avoid misjudgments, and control for differences”.
Meanwhile, he complained that “some politicians and media in the United States are using the incident as a pretext to attack and smear China.”
The Chinese version of the balloon flying over the United States
China tried to calm things down on Friday: “It is a civilian airship used for research purposes, mainly meteorological. With limited self-steering capabilities, the aircraft deviated significantly from the planned route. China regrets the entry unintentional flight into US Air Force space due to force majeure,” China’s foreign ministry said.
“The Chinese side will continue to communicate with the US side and properly handle this unexpected situation caused by force majeure,” the statement added.
The key trip that has been postponed
Blinken’s Journey it was to be the largest US visit to China since 2018. For the Biden administration, it’s part of an effort to do so prevent the rivalry with China from worsening. For Beijing’s leaders, it is meant to signal China’s exit from the pandemic lockdown and a desire to reconnect with the rest of the world.
US officials they refused to answer several questions about the globe, including the precise purpose of its surveillance, its size or other specifications. “It is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and poses no military or physical threat to people on the ground,” Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters.
With agency information.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.