2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

News> Nation> Content
Published: 10:33, February 04, 2023 | Updated: 11:38, February 04, 2023
Wang Yi blasts airship hype in phone talk with Blinken
By Zhang Yunbi
Published:10:33, February 04, 2023 Updated:11:38, February 04, 2023 By Zhang Yunbi

This undated photo shows the national flags of China (right) and the United States as well as the flag of Washington DC on the Constitution Avenue in Washington, capital of the United States. (PHOTO / XINHUA]

Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi held a phone talk with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday evening on handling an unintended incident, saying Beijing does not accept "any groundless speculation or hype".

According to media reports, a Chinese unmanned airship has been spotted in airspace above the United States.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday the vessel is a civilian airship from China used for research, mainly meteorological purposes

The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday the vessel is a civilian airship from China used for research, mainly meteorological purposes. It deviated far from its planned course due to westerly winds and its limited self-steering capability.

As Wang talked to Blinken, "the two sides communicated on how to deal with the incident in a calm and professional manner," according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said China is a country living up to its responsibilities and has always strictly abided by international law.

ALSO READ: Beijing urges US officials to abide by one-China principle

"We do not accept any groundless speculation or hype," he said.

In the face of an unexpected situation, what both sides should do is to compose themselves, communicate in a timely manner, avoid misjudgment and manage differences, he added.


Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !