Blinken's Now-Cancelled Visit to China Was Never Officially Announced, Beijing Says

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled his visit to China after the US military complained about a Chinese high-altitude balloon penetrating the US airspace, with Beijing insisting that it was just a wayward “civilian airship” used for research.

In a statement issued on Saturday morning, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said they respect the decision made by the US, Sputnik reported.

"In actuality, the US and China have never announced any visit, the US making any such announcement is their own business, and we respect that," the ministry said.