CCP Threatens US for Shooting Down Spy Balloon Amid Bipartisan Alarm Over China Threat

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Amid growing bipartisan uproar over Beijing’s violation of U.S. sovereignty, a Chinese spokesperson issued a veiled threat vowing that Beijing would “resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests” over the Pentagon’s shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon.

The spy balloon was first located on Feb. 1 floating over Montana, where it loitered over sensitive areas where nuclear warheads are kept in silos.

Discovery of the balloon prompted a flurry of calls by lawmakers and others to shoot it down, with the U.S. military finally downing it on Feb. 4 off the coast of South Carolina using a single AIM-9X supersonic, heat-seeking, air-to-air missile.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) criticized the military strike on the object, claiming it was a “civilian airship” used for meteorological and other scientific purposes and that it had strayed into U.S. airspace “completely accidentally.”

U.S. officials have flatly dismissed such claims, describing the balloon as a military spycraft with a device hanging from the bottom about the size of a small jet.

‘Unique Opportunities’ for Counterintelligence

Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, who serves as commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), said that the U.S. military and intelligence agencies exercised “maximum precaution” to prevent the craft from collecting intelligence.

VanHerck added that waiting for some time before downing the balloon provided “unique opportunities” to conduct counterintelligence and that the vessel “did not present a physical military threat.”

China’s attitude toward the spycraft has hardened considerably following a mild initial response on Feb. 3, in which Beijing described the balloon’s presence as an accident and expressed “regret” for the fact that the airship entered U.S. airspace.

But that tone changed after the U.S. military shot it down around six nautical miles off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean over relatively shallow water that could help efforts to recover parts of the  Chinese surveillance equipment.

By Tom Ozimek

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

A Few Fun Alternatives to the”Gory Stuff” at Halloween

Halloween has gone off the rails with gore through the decades.  But there are ways to enjoy the "scary stuff" without giving into darker, pagan alliances.  

Germany Stands To Lose & Poland To Gain From The EU’s Latest Energy Move

The US is geostrategically re-engineering Europe at Germany’s expense in order to facilitate Russia’s post-Ukraine containment.

EBT Serfs Threaten Violent Mass-Shoplifting Spree if Food Stamps Cut

The EBT serfs of the underclass may be in for a rough ride come November, when mommy government is slated to wean them off the teat of state.

The Real Reason Why the Left is Unhinged

Nine out of thirteen of the original states required you to be a Bible believing Christian to serve in government at the time of the founding.

The Sacrificial Lambs of the Riyadh Standup Scene

Which is the greater injustice: jailing political dissidents, or millions dead from pharma crimes with no accountability for those responsible?

ICE Tracker Planned by Democrats Could Endanger Agents, Bondi Says

AG Pam Bondi warned Democrats’ plan for an online platform tracking ICE in LA could put federal agents at risk of harassment or violence.

Trump Responds to Report He’s Seeking $230 Million From DOJ for Past Investigations

President Trump acknowledged the odd position he’s in given that the lawsuit was launched when he was a private citizen: ‘I’m suing myself.’

Food, Drink Companies Launch New Group in Bid for National Food Standards

PepsiCo and major food makers launched a coalition urging national standards for ingredient safety and labeling to replace inconsistent state regulations.

With CDC Reports on Hold Amid Shutdown, Private Groups to Launch Alternative

Private organizations are planning an alternative to the CDC’s weekly MMWR publication, sometimes known as the voice of the public health agency.

Trump Calls off Meeting With Putin, White House Says

White House says Secretary Rubio and Russia’s Lavrov had a productive call; no further meetings or Trump-Putin talks are planned soon.

President Signs Rare Earth Agreement With Australia’s PM

President Trump hosted Australian PM Albanese at the White House, where both leaders signed a new agreement on rare earth mineral cooperation.

Trump Says Insurrection Act Is ‘Strongest Power a President Has’

President Trump detailed plans to invoke the Insurrection Act to address rampant crime, calling it the “strongest power a president has.”

Army Corps of Engineers to Pause $11 Billion in Projects During Shutdown: Vought

Russ Vought, director of the White House’s OMB, has added to the growing pile of federal projects paused during the government shutdown.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central