A senior State Department official said on Thursday that Secretary of State Brinken will postpone a planned trip to China this month.
“It is a clear violation of sovereignty and a violation of international law. I explained that I had decided to postpone the visit.
Secretary of State Brinken said he was scheduled to leave on the 3rd.
China's 'civil airship for meteorological research'
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the night of the 3rd that it had confirmed that a balloon believed to be from China was flying over the mainland of the United States. After that, he announced, "I regret that I got lost in the United States due to force majeure."
The US Department of Defense announced on the 2nd that it confirmed that a reconnaissance balloon was flying above the US mainland higher than that used by commercial aircraft, and revealed an analysis that it was Chinese. .
Regarding this, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said at a press conference on the 3rd that it was "watching related reports and currently confirming the situation", but later said, "It is a Chinese private airship that studies weather etc. ” announced.
After that, he said, ``Due to the influence of westerly winds, etc., it deviated greatly from the planned course.I regret that I got lost in America due to force majeure.
"We will continue to communicate with the United States and respond appropriately to unforeseen circumstances caused by force majeure."
The US government has told China that it is taking the situation seriously.