Skip to content
Opinion
The Editors

Chinese Spy Balloon Fracas Shouldn’t Blow Blinken Off Course

Resuming diplomacy isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s critical to ensure future spats between the US and China don’t escalate dangerously. 

Biden should put Blinken back on a plane.

Biden should put Blinken back on a plane.

Photographer: Alex Wong/Getty Images 

By

The US has every right to be angry about the massive Chinese spy balloon that meandered through its airspace before being shot down last week. A full accounting of the mysterious airship — its technology, its mission, what intelligence it may have gleaned — should be undertaken quickly and transparently.

Nevertheless, this mishap shouldn’t derail America’s broader goals in its relationship with China. In particular, Secretary of State Antony Blinken — who canceled a planned trip to Beijing over the incident — needs to reschedule his visit and get back to work.