"Blinken-Wang Yi, Possible First Meeting in Munich After 'Reconnaissance Balloon Controversy'"

Bloomberg Report
First High-Level Diplomatic Meeting Between US and China After Balloon Incident

[Asia Economy Reporter Haeyoung Kwon] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken is reportedly considering a meeting with Wang Yi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party Central Political Bureau, during the Munich Security Conference to be held in Germany from the 17th to 19th (local time). If the meeting takes place, it will be the first face-to-face meeting between senior U.S. and Chinese diplomatic officials since the Chinese reconnaissance balloon incident.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 13th (local time), Bloomberg News reported, citing multiple sources, that Secretary Blinken is considering talks with Commissioner Wang on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Wang is the top figure in China's diplomatic line.

Initially, Secretary Blinken was scheduled to visit China earlier this month, but the schedule was postponed after a Chinese reconnaissance balloon was detected in U.S. airspace. The State Department explained at the time that the balloon issue could overshadow other diplomatic and security agendas, making it an inappropriate time.

However, even if the meeting between Secretary Blinken and Commissioner Wang is realized, it is unlikely to immediately resolve security tensions between the two countries. On the 4th, the U.S. military shot down a Chinese reconnaissance balloon that had violated U.S. airspace, and from the 10th to the 12th, three unidentified flying objects were shot down over three days. China has not commented on the identity of the remaining three flying objects.

Meanwhile, on the 6th, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman invited diplomats from over 40 key allied countries stationed in Washington, including South Korea, to share information gathered about China's reconnaissance balloons. According to the White House and the State Department, since 2018, China has conducted reconnaissance activities using balloons in over 40 countries across five continents, including Japan, India, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

On the other hand, the Chinese government claims that the balloons in question are weather research balloons and asserts that the U.S. has sent reconnaissance balloons over Chinese airspace more than ten times. The U.S. White House has strongly denied these claims as unfounded.