A new gap has appeared in relations between Beijing and Washington due to the story of a Chinese balloon that was shot down over US territory. This opinion was expressed by Alexei Pushkov, Chairman of the Federation Council Commission on Information Policy and Interaction with the Media.

“The conflict between the US and China over the escaped balloon, which the Americans eventually shot down, has not yet been resolved. At first, congressmen and senators were indignant, now official Beijing is outraged,” he wrote in his Telegram channel.

The senator noted that after this story, China and the United States were "not up to rapprochement."

Earlier, Senator Pushkov predicted that the scandal over the Chinese balloon in the sky over the United States would have far-reaching consequences for relations between Washington and Beijing.

Politico previously wrote that the destruction of the balloon "destroyed bilateral ties" between the US and China. "President Joe Biden's decision to shoot down a Chinese surveillance balloon on Saturday is a blow to US-China relations, which have been deteriorating for years," the story said.

China expressed its "strong displeasure and protest" against the decision of the US authorities to shoot down the balloon, accusing the US of "overreaction".