China No Apology Over Chinese Spy Balloon Incident, According to Antony Blinken

China has not issued any apology regarding the Chinese spy balloon that hovered over U.S. airspace, according to State Secretary Antony Blinken.

Blinken made the announcement after he met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, over the Chinese spy balloon that caused confusion and much caution to authorities and citizens.

The state secretary noted in a press conference that he does not want to "characterize what he said," as he believed it would not be appropriate to do so, as quoted by USA Today.

Blinken added that he told Yi that it was "unacceptable" and "can never happen again," according to an NBC News interview.

Aside from discussions about the Chinese spy balloon, Blinken also raised concerns that China was helping Russia in its war in Ukraine.

U.S. officials reportedly believe that China may be giving assistance to Russia when it comes to nonlethal military aid.

Blinken said that he clarified that there would be "serious consequences" in U.S.-China relations, which U.S. President Joe Biden told President Xi Jinping.

China on Chinese Spy Balloon

Yi slammed the response of the United States regarding the surveillance craft, describing that the incident was "absurd and hysterical."

The Chinese foreign policy official noted that the U.S. shooting down the Chinese balloon and three other flying objects was "unbelievable" and that the effort was just to "divert attention from its domestic problems."

China's foreign ministry and Yi earlier claimed that the spy craft was a "civilian craft" used for scientific research and had flown off course.

However, the United States refuted those claims and said that the balloon was "clearly for intelligence surveillance," according to Forbes.

The Chinese government also accused the United States of having flown high-altitude balloons over China's airspace "on many occasions."

Meanwhile, Biden said he has "no apologies" for the takedown, adding that the U.S. will be getting "to the bottom of this."

Chinese Spy Balloon and Flying Objects

On February 2, the Defense Department said it was tracking the balloon over the continental U.S.

Two days after the discovery and announcement of the surveillance material, a U.S. fighter jet shot down the spy balloon. Its size was then compared to the Statue of Liberty, which was about "200 feet tall with a jetliner size payload," as detailed by CBS News.

The surveillance balloon includes high-tech equipment that could gather communications signals and other sensitive information.

Government officials said that it also has solar panels located on the metal truss suspended below the balloon.

A senior State Department official said in a statement that the spy balloon also had "multiple antennas," which could have the capability to collect and geo-collect communications.

On February 10 to February 12, U.S. officials also shot down other flying objects.

Department of Defense officials noted that the three flying objects did not have any kinetic military threat.

Blinken said it is not in both parties' interest to be into a new Cold War but added that the matter is "consequential."

READ MORE: Downed Chinese Spy Balloon Being Recalled by China After U.S. Navy's Recovery of Surveillance Craft

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: China offers ‘no apology’ in first meeting with Blinken after spy balloon shoot down - from NBC News