After the United States shot down China's spy balloon on Saturday, China refused a US request for a call between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his counterpart, Wei Fenghe - a sharp escalation in tensions during an already tenuous period in US-China relations.
“On Saturday, 4 February, immediately after taking action to down the PRC balloon, the DOD submitted a request for a secure call between Secretary Austin and PRC Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe. We believe in the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and the PRC in order to responsibly manage the relationship. Lines between our militaries are particularly important in moments like this. Unfortunately, the PRC has declined our request. Our commitment to open lines of communication will continue," according to a statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder.
On Tuesday, China said it will "resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests" over the shootdown - which resulted in the cancellation of a highly anticipated visit to Beijing this week by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, which many hoped would result in an improvement in relations.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/china-refused-us-request-phone-call-after-spy-balloon-shot-down
Redacted made best point s in this. We only know about this balloon because 'they' let us know. According to China was a weather balloon and China instructed as such before this was a thing. This is now an excuse for war mongers and neo cons to send arms to or Taiwan or equivalent...Sanger from New York times is advocating as such as well.
How do we know it's a china balloon except that we were told it was a china balloon? Hm?