U.S. officers addressed mounting tensions with China Sunday after Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with China’s prime diplomat, Wang Yi, to debate China’s high-altitude surveillance balloon and the nation’s stance on sending “deadly help” to Russia.

The U.S. army shot down a high-altitude Chinese language balloon on Feb. 4, and Blinken advised Yi that it was an “unacceptable violation of U.S. sovereignty and worldwide legislation,” a State Division spokesperson mentioned in a press release Saturday. Blinken additionally warned of the “implications and penalties” if China gives materials help to Russia, in line with the assertion.

The officers met on the margins of the Munich Safety Convention, the place leaders from around the globe gathered to debate geopolitical challenges.

Blinken mentioned Sunday that “there is not any doubt” the high-altitude balloon was making an attempt to interact in lively surveillance.

“What is obvious is that when the balloon was over america and flying mainly west to east, it tried to surveil very delicate army websites. In some instances, it loitered or returned to them because it progressed east,” he advised NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Blinken mentioned he had a “very direct, very clear” dialog concerning the balloon with Yi, however that he didn’t obtain a direct apology. Blinken mentioned he thinks different international locations “recognize” the truth that america has “uncovered” China’s balloon program.

“Greater than 40 international locations have had these balloons go over their territories,” he advised ABC’s “This Week.” “There’s an actual concern that I am listening to right here from different international locations.”

Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Mike Turner, R-Ohio, are additionally on the Munich Safety Convention, and so they mentioned that the Biden administration must be extra open with the American public about what China’s espionage plans had been.

However regardless of the balloon, Turner mentioned he thinks there is a chance for the 2 nations to return to regular dialogue.

“No one in every of course needs a Chilly Warfare,” he advised CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday. “What we would like is a China that isn’t going to be an aggressor state.”

Chinese language aggression can be a priority in Russia’s conflict towards Ukraine. Blinken mentioned the U.S. has info that means China is contemplating sending “deadly help” to Russia.

He advised NBC there are “numerous varieties” of deadly help that China is contemplating offering, together with weapons. Blinken mentioned China has already been aiding Russia in additional diplomatic methods, however that sending deadly help could be a major escalation.

“It was necessary for me to share very clearly with Wang Yi that this is able to be a major problem,” Blinken advised ABC.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., additionally appeared on the Munich Safety Convention, and he advised ABC that if China does present Russia with deadly help, the world must “come down onerous” on China.

Graham mentioned aiding Russia materially could be “probably the most catastrophic factor” that would occur to U.S.-China relations.

“To the Chinese language: If you happen to leap on the Putin practice now, you are dumber than filth,” he mentioned. “It could be like shopping for a ticket on the Titanic after you noticed the film. Do not do that.”