Top Republicans are pressing the Biden administration to do more to punish China after US officials found a suspicious rubber balloon floating over northern states, alleging that this incident indicates Beijing’s disregard for American sovereignty.
US defense officials believe the balloon provided limited intelligence compared to what can be obtained via satellites operating at low Earth orbit.
What Happened?
Experts were given several days after the balloon’s journey across the US for them to analyze it and gain more insight into China’s intelligence gathering capabilities, according to officials. Furthermore, the Pentagon plans on briefing Congress about this incident.
A senior defense official stated that the US has informed China of their balloon through multiple channels, such as their embassy in Washington and diplomatic missions in China.
Military officials defended their decision not to shoot down a spy balloon by noting it did not pose a national security risk or add significant value for China beyond what could already be collected via low Earth orbit satellites. He noted the balloon was occupying Montana airspace and thus raising concerns that it might collect sensitive information at Malmstrom Air Force Base or US intercontinental ballistic missile fields; at this especially delicate time in relations between Washington and Beijing with Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s imminent visit there.
Why Was It Detected?
Though its purpose remains unknown, the Pentagon is “very confident” the balloon belongs to China. US officials say they are closely monitoring it but that it poses no military threat or interfere with critical infrastructure – all factors officials cite as possible explanations.
The Pentagon decided against shooting down the balloon as doing so could create a debris field that put lives at risk, according to US officials. Furthermore, such action wouldn’t offer China any new intelligence that they couldn’t already access via satellites alone, one US official informed lawmakers.
China maintains that the balloon was simply an innocent civilian airship that deviated from its intended path and got lost after leaving its original target zone. They believe the US overreacts in order to protect its own interests amid an escalated trade war between their two nations, vowing to safeguard China’s legitimate rights and interests in America firmly.
What Can We Do About It?
US government officials announced Thursday afternoon that they are closely observing a balloon that has flown above commercial air traffic and pose no military or physical threat to people on the ground, according to Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder of Defense Spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder’s comments regarding it as they travel over 130,000 feet above commercial aviation routes, said Ryder.
The Pentagon’s refusal to shoot down the spy balloon has caused tensions to flare between Washington and Beijing. Members from both parties in Congress have voiced concern, while Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) called China’s increasing use of espionage “alarming yet not surprising”.
But while it is likely that the balloon is collecting data from sensitive locations like Montana’s missile fields, according to Pentagon assessments it will only provide limited and redundant information for Chinese governments via other methods, including satellite surveillance. Furthermore, its journey across America has given experts plenty of time to study it and gather technical details NBC News reports.
What Can We Learn From It?
Investigation is in its early stages as investigators can only examine a small portion of the balloon so far. The FBI is now in the preliminary stages of analyzing pieces recovered from the site and brought to its lab in Quantico, Virginia for analysis.
US officials have concluded that the Chinese balloon was equipped with electronic surveillance and signals intelligence equipment that can gather data from weapon systems as well as communications between military personnel. Three current and former senior administration officials confirmed this conclusion.
While it remains unknown how the balloon managed to land over sensitive US sites and transmit information back to Beijing, this incident could only serve to further strain already fragile relations between both nations. Furthermore, its discovery came just days before Secretary of State Antony Blinken planned trip to China as well as amid reports that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy may visit Taiwan – both actions likely exacerbating tensions in Beijing.