US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday scrapped a rare Beijing trip aimed at easing escalating tensions between the two global powers, after the Pentagon said that China sent a balloon over the United States.Moments before the decision, China issued a rare statement of regret and blamed winds for blowing over what it called a civilian airship.But President Joe Biden's administration described it as a maneuverable "surveillance balloon" that was on Friday floating over the central United States.With the rival Republican Party already on the offensive, Blinken postponed his two-day visit that would have started Sunday.__________________________________________Read also
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February 03, 2023 | 09:33 PM