Top US, China diplomats weigh first meeting since balloon drama

Recently, the US military has shot down four flying objects over North America, when an octagonal object was downed

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is considering a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference, in what would be the diplomats' first face-to-face talks since the US shot down flying objects over the country, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

In recent days, the US military has shot down four flying objects over North America, most recently on Sunday, when an octagonal object was downed over Lake Huron, the Pentagon said. 

Earlier, China said that US high-altitude balloons had flown over its airspace without permission more than 10 times since the beginning of 2022, widening a diplomatic row after the US military shot down what it says was a Chinese spy balloon.

"Since last year, the US's high-altitude balloons have undergone more than 10 illegal flights into Chinese airspace without the approval of the relevant Chinese departments," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular briefing in Beijing in response to a question.

Also read: China says US flew high-altitude balloons over its airspace

Wang did not specifically describe the balloons as military or for espionage purposes and did not provide further details.

Asked how China had responded to such incursions into its airspace, Wang said its responses had been "responsible and professional".

The US defense department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China's assertion comes after the United States shot down what it says was a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4 after it had drifted across the continental United States for days.

In response to the Chinese balloon, the United States postponed a visit to Beijing by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

China says the balloon was a civilian research craft that had mistakenly blown off course and accused the United States of overreacting.

"The first thing the US side should do is to look at itself, to change its ways, not to smear and incite confrontation," Wang said.

In recent days, the US military has shot down three other flying objects over North America.

Wang said he had no information on the latest three objects shot down by the United States.