A suspected Chinese surveillance balloon has caused a diplomatic crisis between the U.S. and China, leading Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone his trip to China. Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies believes the incident has reinforced concerns about China's ambitions, further straining the relationship between the two countries. The situation is being monitored closely and it is unclear when Blinken's trip will be rescheduled.
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CIA Director William Burns has warned that Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed the Chinese army to be ready for a potential invasion of Taiwan by 2027. US officials have reported that the Chinese are using surveillance balloons powered by a solar array, and have raised their concerns with Beijing about it. The US government is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to take action if necessary.
A mysterious Chinese surveillance balloon is hovering over the United States, prompting an international diplomatic crisis. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the balloon and is receiving regular updates from the National Security Team. The White House is monitoring and reviewing options, while Beijing insists it is a weather balloon that got blown off track.
US-China relations have been strained in recent years, and the US government has recently discovered a suspected Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon flying over the continental US. In response, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed a planned high-stakes weekend diplomatic trip to China, and the US is now weighing a broader response. President Joe Biden and Blinken have determined that it is best not to proceed with the trip at this time.
A mysterious balloon spotted over American airspace has been identified as a Chinese weather research airship that had been blown off course, according to a statement from Beijing's Foreign Ministry. The Pentagon had considered shooting it down due to its potential to fly over sensitive sites, but ultimately decided against it. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the balloon was used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes and had deviated far from its planned course due to strong winds. The incident has raised questions about the security of U.S. airspace and the potential for foreign surveillance.
The United States is currently tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over U.S. airspace for a few days. The Pentagon has decided not to shoot it down due to the risks of harm for people on the ground. The balloon is reportedly the size of three buses and is believed to be collecting information. This is not the first time the U.S. has tracked one of Beijing’s balloons, and the Pentagon has not released any further information on the balloon or its purpose.
The Chinese government has reported a significant increase in Covid-related deaths since early December, with nearly 60,000 fatalities reported as of Saturday. The National Health Commission (NHC) noted that the majority of these deaths occurred in hospitals, and that the “emergency peak” of the surge appears to have passed. The NHC's announcement provides a more accurate picture of the situation, and the government is continuing to take measures to contain the virus, including travel restrictions, social distancing, and encouraging citizens to get vaccinated.