“The lines between our armies are especially important at times like this. Unfortunately, the PRC denied our request,” Pentagon spokesman Brig. General Pat Ryder said in a statement. “Our commitment to opening lines of communication will continue.”
The military shot down the balloon after spending a week transiting between Canada and the United States
China, which claimed the airship was a stray weather balloon, threatened retaliation for its downing.
Wei, for his part, last June appeared to target the United States for criticism during an international appearance in Singapore.
Meanwhile, members of both parties in the United States have called for aggressive action against China.
President Joe Biden said last week he wanted to shoot the balloon down sooner, but senior Pentagon officials have recommended the military wait until it’s over water to ensure that no one on the ground is injured by debris.
The army has since launched recovery efforts into the Atlantic Ocean to recover the remains of the balloon and its large payload.
