In the United States reported an attempt to contact China after the situation with the balloon

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin tried to contact China’s defense secretary after a Chinese balloon was shot down in the sky over the United States, but Beijing rejected this request, the press service of the military department said.

“On Saturday, February 4, immediately after the balloon was shot down, the Pentagon filed an application for a secure conversation between Austin and the Chinese defense minister … Unfortunately, the application was rejected by the PRC,” the report said (cit. according to RIA Novosti). The Pentagon stressed the US commitment to maintaining an open dialogue with China.

A Chinese balloon was spotted in the skies over the US in early February and was reported by the Pentagon on February 3rd. At the same time, it was clarified that they did not plan to shoot down the ball because of the possible consequences for people.

However, already on February 4, a Chinese balloon was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean, about 19 km from the coast of North Carolina. After that, the Chinese Foreign Ministry informedthat Washington’s decision to shoot down the balloon damaged relations between the two countries. Beijing strongly protested and urged to avoid further actions that escalate tension and damage China’s interests.

Washington believes that the balloon was engaged in “observation of strategic objects.” His route lay near the positions of intercontinental ballistic missiles and the air base of strategic bombers. The Chinese side claims that the balloon was a meteorological probe.