'Spy' balloon over U.S. skies triggers diplomatic storm | Inside Story

Feb 4, 2023 #SouthChinaSea #Beijing #Blinken
A trade war, tensions on Taiwan, the South China Sea and Russia's invasion of Ukraine - the fault lines have widened as Washington scrambles to counter Beijing's rising economic and strategic influence.
But this week's appearance of a giant Chinese balloon over the skies of North America is threatening to further destabilise that relationship.
Washington says it's being used to spy. In response, it cancelled a planned visit to Beijing by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
China maintains it's a civilian weather balloon that was blown off course.
As mistrust deepens, what lies ahead for the U.S.-China relationship?

Presenter: Dareen Abughaida

Guests:
Heino Klinck - Retired U.S. Army Colonel and Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Victor Gao - Vice President of the Center for China and Globalization.

Zeno Leoni - Lecturer in Defence Studies at King’s College London.