It seems like a worthwhile topic to discuss when a balloon-like spy apparatus, originating from China, floats near a U.S. military base in Montana.
At first glance, you’d have to ask why China would send balloons to spy on anything. In the age of satellites with ultra-high resolution imagery, balloons would seem antiquated. That is mostly true and balloons are used almost exclusively for weather forecasting and wind measurement nowadays. With that being said, the only obvious explanation is to intentionally get caught and intentionally judge the response.
Here are some images and videos of the object floating around the sky out west:
It was just confirmed that the Chinese government currently has a spy balloon flying over the US which shut down the air space over Billings yesterday. This is footage from our reporter Travia outside the @KULR NBC studios of the ballon. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/uhjVeLk69C
— Bradley Warren (@bradmwarren) February 2, 2023
Reports of a second object were spotted over Canada, as well:
NORAD tracking a 2nd Chinese Spy Balloon in Canadian airspace. The first balloon spent 36 hours flying over BC and Alberta. It was reportedly intercepting radio comms from RCAF Air Base at Cold Lake, Alberta. It's one of our most important air force bases https://t.co/rzNQYVH4Q4 pic.twitter.com/Vr0hLjM7wF
— Rod Francis (@InRodWeTrustMTL) February 3, 2023
Naturally, the White House is facing serious questions about the way it has handled relations with China. Given the failures in Afghanistan in the summer of 2021 and President Biden’s inability to deter Vladimir Putin from launching a war on neighboring Ukraine, China seems to be taking notice of weak leadership in the Oval Office:
Top Republicans in Congress are demanding answers from the Biden administration over the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been hovering over the northern U.S. over the past few days.
They lashed out directly at President Joe Biden, arguing that the incident demonstrates that U.S. posture and policies toward China are not deterring the communist nation. Many prominent Republicans also suggested the U.S. should have shot down the balloon.
After the news of the balloon was confirmed by U.S. officials, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said late Thursday that he’s requesting a briefing for the leaders of both parties in the House and Senate and the heads of the intelligence committees.
“China’s brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action that must be addressed, and President Biden cannot be silent. I am requesting a Gang of Eight briefing,” McCarthy tweeted.
Meanwhile, staff for the so-called “Gang of Eight” bipartisan group of leaders on the Hill were given a classified briefing Thursday afternoon on the balloon, three sources familiar told NBC News on Friday.
China is expecting a lacking response despite the fact that it clearly invaded U.S. airspace near a military installation no less. In that regard, what does China have to fear when it comes to dealing with its neighbors? If America is unwilling to knock out a balloon brazenly invading restricted air space, what resistance would China truly face if it went forward with plans to retake Taiwan?
For what it’s worth, China claims it was a “civilian airship” that simply veered off course:
In a relatively conciliatory statement, the Chinese foreign ministry said late Friday that the balloon was a civilian airship used mainly for meteorological research. The ministry said the airship has limited “self-steering” capabilities and “deviated far from its planned course” because of winds.
“The Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into U.S. airspace due to force majeure,” the statement said, citing a legal term used to refer to events beyond one’s control.
Former President Trump wasted no time in calling for the U.S. military to shoot down the balloon:
Former President Trump has weighed in on the suspected Chinese spy balloon hovering above the northern United States, calling on President Biden and his administration to “shoot” it down.
“SHOOT DOWN THE BALLOON,” Trump wrote in a Friday morning post to Truth Social.
Trump, who announced last November that he would make a third run for the White House in 2024, is not the only one calling for the Biden administration to take immediate action amid tension with China.
There is little argument that world leaders played nicer with Trump than they have with Joe Biden. Trump was an unknown and seemed more willing to use American might to make a point or keep enemies at bay. Trump’s model, which was based on Reagan’s “peace through strength” mantra, is a time-tested way to deter conflict through the perceived threat of military might.
Biden, on the other hand, has taken the “war through failure” model by walking the country into one foreign entanglement after another.
With the continent of Europe potentially poised to become involved in a broader war with Russia, China sees the opening of global unrest and isn’t going to waste the opportunity to push Biden’s buttons and see what happens.
