(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (KUNA) -- The Pentagon on Friday condemned as unacceptable act the Chinese balloon's violation of the US airspace and Secretary of State Antony Blinken shelved his planned visit to Beijing over the incident.
'We know that balloon has violated US airspace and international law - which is unacceptable,' Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said in a news briefing.
'And we've conveyed this directly to the PRC on multiple levels. The balloon is maneuverable, clearly it's violated US air space, and again we've communicated that fact to the PRC [People's Republic of China].'
He pointed out that the balloon was assessed to be at about 60,000 feet above the ground and had changed its course.
The Pentagon official rejected China's claims that the balloon that entered the US was a 'civilian airship' for research that deviated from course.
'The fact is, we know that it's a surveillance balloon, and I'm not going to be able to be more specific than that. the information is classified,' he said.
Ryder indicated that the Pentagon currently assessed that balloon did not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground at this time.
He noted that the balloon might probably be over the United States for a few days.
'But we'll continue to monitor and review our options and keep you updated as we can,' he said.
He stressed that the US was always open to maintaining an open line of communication with China and in that regard, nothing has changed.
In the meantime, the US Department of State said that it noted the Chinese statement of regret, but affirmed that the presence of this balloon in US airspace is a clear violation of sovereignty, as well as international law, and it is unacceptable that this has occurred.
The Department announced the postponement of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's planned visit to Beijing.
'After consultations with our interagency partners, as well as with Congress, we have concluded that the conditions are not right at this moment for Secretary Blinken to travel to China,' unnamed senior State Department official told reporters via phone.
'We believe in diplomacy to responsibly manage the most complex bilateral relationship we have. We are committed to maintaining open lines with China, at all times, including during this incident,' the official added.
The Secretary conveyed to the Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, Wang Yi, earlier this morning that the trip would need to be postponed.
But the Secretary indicated that he would plan to travel to China at the earliest opportunity when conditions allow.
'In the meantime, we will maintain open lines of communication with the PRC to address our concerns about this ongoing incident and to responsibly manage the competition between our countries,' the official said.
The secretary had been set to leave for Beijing on Friday evening in a trip that was extensively planned since it was first announced after President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Bali, Indonesia, in November at the Group of 20 summit. (end)
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