Biden “Expecting dialogue with Xi Jinping…I do not apologize for shooting down the scout balloon”

US President Joe Biden said he would shoot down any object that posed a threat to the safety and security of the American people.

On the 16th, President Biden emphasized this in a speech revealing his position on Chinese reconnaissance balloons and unidentified aircraft that recently appeared in the US sky.

President Biden said, “I still don’t know exactly” regarding the three aircraft confirmed following the Chinese reconnaissance balloon, and “there is nothing to show that they are related to the current Chinese reconnaissance balloon program or that they are reconnaissance equipment from other countries.” .

He said, “The intelligence authorities’ assessment is that it is likely that the balloon belongs to a private company, hobby, or meteorological or other scientific research institute.”

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President Biden said, “I will not apologize” for shooting down a Chinese reconnaissance balloon on the 4th, but said, “We will compete, and we will manage the competition responsibly so that the competition does not escalate into a collision.”

He also added that he “looks forward to a dialogue with President Xi” regarding this matter and “hopes we can find out the truth of this matter.”

The United States shot down one aircraft identified as a Chinese reconnaissance balloon over the eastern coast of South Carolina on the 4th, followed by three unidentified aircraft over Alaska on the 10th, Northwestern Yukon in Canada on the 11th, and Lake Huron near the Canadian border on the 12th. shot down.

VOA News