U.S. President Joe Biden has said he intends to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to ease tensions with China after the downing of a balloon suspected of being a reconnaissance balloon. He sought to allay concerns of the American public over a series of shooting downs, including those of unidentified flying objects.
Biden said there were no indications that the three non-ballooned Chinese objects were being used for foreign surveillance, but vowed to set new standards for securing U.S. airspace. He also said he would “responsibly handle” competition with China so that it does not escalate into conflict.
“We’re not going to start another Cold War, but I’m not going to apologize. We’re going to compete,” Mr. Biden said at the White House. It’s the first time Biden has publicly commented on the controversy surrounding the shooting downs. He did not give a timetable for when he plans to meet with Xi.
Biden, who has been asked by both parties to disclose more information about the balloon and the flying object, said the flying object likely had nothing to do with ballooning, but rather a commercial or research project. However, the government has yet to make a decision because the wreckage has not yet been recovered. He also said that the shooting down of these flying objects was a precautionary measure.
“There is no evidence of a sudden increase in the number of objects encroaching on our airspace,” Biden said, adding that more objects were being detected as a result of China’s hot air balloon problem, which increased the detection accuracy of its radar system.
Regarding his decision to shoot down the balloon, he said it sent a “clear message” that violating US sovereignty was “unacceptable,” adding, “I hope the truth will come out, but I don’t believe in shooting down the balloon.” I will not apologize,” he said again.
Part of a balloon recovered from the Atlantic Ocean (February 10)
Source: Digital
Original title:Biden Intends to Speak With Xi to Ease Tensions Over Balloon (2)(excerpt)
(Will update with background and Biden comments)
