Can’t ask for talks and fuel tension: China on Biden’s ‘no apology’ jibe

BEIJING: China on Friday sharply reacted to US President Joe Biden’s remarks defending his orders to shoot down a Chinese spy balloon and his assertion to “remain in communication” with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, saying that Washington cannot ask for talks while fuelling tensions and escalating the crisis. In his remarks at the White House on Thursday, Biden said he expects to speak with his Chinese counterpart Xi on the issue that has increased the tensions between the US and China. “And I hope we are going to get to the bottom of this, but I make no apologies for taking down that balloon,” he said.
Responding to Biden’s remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said he has no information on the likelihood of Biden-Xi talks as of now. Wang said “the unintended entry of Chinese airship into US airspace is an isolated unexpected event but it is also a test to the US sincerity and capability to . . . manage crisis to stabilise relations with China and sincerity to improve relations with China”.
“The US cannot ask for communication and dialogue fuelling tensions and escalating the crisis,” he said. He said the US needs to work with China in the same direction and manage differences.