Blinken meets Chinese counterpart in Munich

The meeting, which took place in the margins of the Munich Security Conference, is the first face-to-face among senior American and Chinese officials since the U.S. knocked down an alleged Chinese monitoring balloon on the coast of South Carolina earlier this month, which travelled through American airspace.

Diplomatic consequences from balloons have been swift, with Washington accusing China of monitoring a broad international monitoring programme. Beijing, meanwhile, has denied these claims and on its part has charged the US, without evidence, with flying balloons over its airspace without permission. China claims that its balloon, which American forces identified and then knocked it down earlier this month, was a civilian research aircraft that was accidentally displaced from the course, CNN reports.

Earlier on Saturday, Wang criticised the treatment of the incident by the United States, calling the response “absurd and hysteric” and “100% abuse of force”, broadcast Klankosova.tv.

President Joe Biden said Thursday he expects to speak to Xi about the balloon, but that he will not apologize for his fall.

“I hope we're going to end this thing, but I don't apologize for dropping that balloon”, he said.

Wednesday, CNN reported that American intelligence officials are praising the possibility that the balloon had not been deliberately maneuvered in the U.S. continental by the Chinese government, and are considering whether I strayed from the course by strong winds, according to many informed people of intelligence.

Any information suggesting that the US balloon route may have been unintentional could alleviate tensions between the two nations.

Wang, who was appointed Xi's chief foreign policy adviser last month, has already visited France and Italy this week and is expected to visit Russia after Munich's conference.

The trip will be a test of Beijing's bid to achieve a diplomatic balancing act between strengthening relations with the West and maintaining close ties with Moscow.

China's relations with Europe have come under great stress after the war in Ukraine. Beijing has refused to fully condemn the invasion or to support numerous measures against it in the United Nations. China has also continued its partnership with the Russian Army during large-scale exercises, while increasing trade and fuel purchases from Moscow.

According to China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang's visit to Moscow will provide an opportunity for China and Russia to continue developing their strategic partnership and “to exchange views” on “issues of international and regional hot points with common interest” a phrase often used to allude to topics, including the war in Ukraine.

The Foreign Ministry did not specify whether Wang would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Wang's visit could also envision an Xi state visit to Moscow later this year. Putin extended an invitation to President Xi during a typical last-year call between the two leaders, but China's Foreign Ministry has not confirmed any plans yet.