"Backroom negotiations": military expert Zgurets on US response to China's balloon

Serhiy Zgurets, Defense Express military expert group’s director, states this on Espreso.

He recalled that when the first balloon was shot down, China reacted harshly and denied any involvement in the situation. Afterward, meetings between American and Chinese officials were canceled for some time.

"In fact, the situation has changed slightly in a week. The US recognizes that there were no intelligence systems on the balloons. I think we are talking about behind-the-scenes negotiations, where both countries are not ready to perceive this period of time as suitable for mutual escalation. I think they have chosen a more docile solution to this problem," said Zgurets.

• On February 4, the United States shot down a Chinese "spy balloon" flying over South Carolina airspace. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "strong dissatisfaction and protest".

• On February 14, The Washington Post wrote that a Chinese balloon shot down on the east coast of the United States and believed to be a spy that may have strayed from its original route due to bad weather.