The United States attempted to contact China’s communist regime after its military shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon off the South Carolina coast on Feb. 4, but Beijing refused to take the call.
The Pentagon said on Feb. 7 that it requested a phone call between U.S. defense secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese defense minister Wei Fenghe after the balloon downing, but the request had been turned down.
“Lines between our militaries are particularly important in moments like this. Unfortunately, the [People’s Republic of China] has declined our request,” Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement….