The UN urges the US and China to "reduce tensions" after Washington detects a Chinese spy balloon

MADRID, 3 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The spokesman for the Secretary General of the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric, has called for calm between the United States and China and has urged them to "reduce tensions" that originated after Washington detected a Chinese spy balloon over its national territory.

In statements to the media, Dujarric has acknowledged that the United Nations is concerned "whenever there is an increase in tensions between China and the United States," reports the CNN news network.

Thus, when questioned about the postponement of the trip to Beijing by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, Dujarric stressed that it is Washington and Beijing who have to "navigate" this new controversy.

"In this particular incident, obviously the two of them will have to navigate it. But given the world leadership position of both countries, I think it is up to them to do everything possible to reduce tensions," he concluded.

The Government of China has confirmed this Friday that the balloon located by the US authorities in the airspace of the North American country is its property, although it has qualified that "it is of a civil nature" and that it is used for "scientific research".

For this reason, he pointed out that "China regrets that the balloon diverted into the United States due to force majeure" and added that Beijing "will continue to maintain communication with the United States to adequately address this unexpected situation, caused by a greater force."