Will US-China Tensions Escalate Over Balloon Shootdown... Biden Dismisses Retreat Claims

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] U.S. President Joe Biden on the 6th (local time) drew a line on concerns that U.S.-China relations could worsen due to the shooting down of a Chinese reconnaissance balloon, saying, "The relationship will not regress."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

President Biden responded "No" when asked about the matter by reporters at the White House that day. He explained, "We made it clear to China what we intend to do, and they understood our position." He added, "We did the right thing, and this is not a matter of weakening or strengthening the relationship," saying, "This is reality."

Earlier, the U.S. Department of Defense detected a balloon that entered U.S. airspace on the 28th of last month. In response, President Biden ordered a review of the shootdown on the 1st. U.S. authorities, concerned about ground damage, shot it down with an air-to-air missile from an F-22 stealth fighter on the 4th, shortly after the balloon moved into the Atlantic Ocean. The Department of Defense confirmed that during former President Donald Trump's administration, three reconnaissance balloons entered U.S. airspace, and once during the Biden administration, but this is the first time one was detected.

Accordingly, concerns are mounting that U.S.-China relations, which had been improving following the year-end summit, may deteriorate again. China has openly expressed displeasure, calling the response an excessive overreaction that violates international law. Tony Blinken, the Secretary of State who was originally scheduled to visit China, also abruptly postponed his visit on the 3rd, the day of departure, citing the reconnaissance balloon issue. President Biden is also expected to mention the Chinese reconnaissance balloon in his upcoming State of the Union address scheduled for the night of the 7th.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing that day, "Our approach to China has been very clear and will remain cool and steady," emphasizing, "It is up to China what kind of relationship it wants to have with the United States." She confirmed that President Joe Biden has made it clear that he will continue open communication with China and that such communication channels will be maintained going forward. However, she added that through this incident, "the world, including the United States, has seen China's irresponsible behavior," and stated, "I want to make it clear that China's actions this time are unacceptable."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.