Balloon highlights risk of unintentional U.S.-China clash

Beijing should apologize, not protest against American response

20230207 White House balloon preparations

U.S. President Joe Biden meets virtually with Chinese President Xi Jinping from the White House on Nov. 15, 2021. © AP

On Saturday, the U.S. military shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that had been flying over the American mainland. Washington criticized the act as an unacceptable violation of sovereignty and shot down the balloon once it was above the ocean.

It is only natural that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his planned visit to China.

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