President Joe Biden appears steady as concerns rise about a high altitude incident involving a Chinese balloon entering airspace and being shot down by authorities. The United States has accused the craft of espionage, while officials in Washington describe the event as a breach that warranted a direct response. In a recent interview with Politico, Vice President Kamala Harris was asked whether the incident would affect relations between the two nations. She answered that she did not anticipate any lasting impact on diplomatic ties.
Harris noted that in the past week and a half the current U.S. stance toward China has remained focused on competition rather than conflict. She recalled that she personally conveyed this approach to Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a summit in Bangkok in November. That same month, Biden and Xi met in Bali and discussed a path toward reducing tensions. The balloon episode has prompted a renewed push to move forward on diplomacy while maintaining firm security measures.
Harris made these remarks as she prepared to travel to Germany for the Munich Security Conference. She headed the U.S. delegation and held discussions with regional counterparts. Although Harris spoke with Politico about the situation, there was talk of a possible meeting with Beijing’s top diplomat during her time in Munich after discussions with the Chinese foreign minister.
Chinese responses
Time will tell how the United States manages the crisis, but signs of effort are becoming clearer. On Tuesday, officials in Washington briefed The Washington Post with information suggesting China might consider further measures in response to the incident. Beijing’s posture has signaled a defensive stance, while also signaling openness to dialogue.
The Xi government has denied espionage claims regarding the balloon, offering an apology early in the episode and later criticizing what it viewed as an overreaction from Washington. Beijing has since asserted that Washington has flown more than ten high altitude balloons over China since early 2022, a point included in fresh Chinese statements about the incident. In response to the U.S. program, Beijing announced it would take measures against relevant American entities connected with aerospace.
Potential Biden address
Several U.S. outlets reported this week that White House aides expect President Biden to address the nation about the balloon event in an upcoming public remarks sequence. The anticipated message would acknowledge the incident while emphasizing a commitment to sovereignty and national security. It could follow a broader speech format that previously outlined a stance against violations of U.S. territorial integrity. The episode also follows two additional unidentified objects detected in the sky over North American airspace last weekend, which drew questions about incursion risks and national response.
The administration has stressed that the recent objects were not tied to Chinese espionage or any foreign government. Officials describe them as commercial or research devices operating in good faith. Still, the sequence of events over the past two weeks has spurred questions about crisis management and transparency. Critics, including several lawmakers from the Republican side, have pressed for clearer information and smoother coordination across agencies.