The U.S. government has confirmed that there is a Chinese spy balloon hovering over U.S. airspace and a second balloon over Canada, and also heading towards Montana. Not only is this a blatant violation of American airspace, but the Biden administration does not seem to be taking action against it.
Republican lawmakers are immediately calling for the balloon to be shot down and chastising the administration for not doing so, while House Democrats have all but refrained from addressing the balloons.
Rep. Cory Mills compares the situation to the ongoing border crisis, saying that "the Biden administration not only allows for our southern borders to be open, but apparently our airspace is open to adversaries as well."
The Biden administration not only allows for our southern borders to be open, but apparently our airspace is open to adversaries as well.
— Cory Mills 🍊🐊 (@CoryMillsFL) February 3, 2023
Similarly, Rep. Greg Steube, who has been home recovering from a fall, expresses a cynical lack of surprise, saying that the Biden's have "no motivation" to counter the apparent threat. "Hunter is paid off by the billions and the “Big Guy,” who took a cut, is corrupt & compromised. Is it shocking that nothing has been done by our Defense Dept.?" he adds.
The Biden Family has no motivation to stop a Chinese spy balloon or any threat from China for that matter. Hunter is paid off by the billions and the “Big Guy,” who took a cut, is corrupt & compromised.
Is it shocking that nothing has been done by our Defense Dept.?
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) February 3, 2023
Rep. Byron Donalds says that the balloon's projected course is towards "our nation's biggest population centers."
"It's already flown over some of the least densely-populated states in our nation with more in its path. Now DOD says it’s heading east towards our nation's biggest population centers. When will the admin take action? When will the admin take action?" stated Rep. Donalds.
The #ChineseSpyBalloon has VIOLATED our airspace & int'l law.
It's already flown over some of the least densely-populated states in our nation with more in its path.
Now DOD says it’s heading east towards our nation's biggest population centers. When will the admin take action? pic.twitter.com/GLzsJ0lzQp
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) February 3, 2023
Rep. Carlos Gimenez postulates on whether or not Winston Churchill would have shot down German bombers flying over England, warning that China will be emboldened by the lack of response to the balloon. "Shoot this thing down — NOW!" he adds.
🚨I wonder if Winston Churchill would’ve done the same thing about German bombers flying over England. 🤔
If it’s not shot down, don’t you think that #China will just continue sending more of these balloons to the US?
Shoot this thing down — NOW! pic.twitter.com/x2dPlejJ53
— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) February 3, 2023
Likewise, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna simply says, "Chinese spy balloon! Shoot it down!" with the same footage.
Chinese spy balloon! Shoot it down!
— Anna Paulina Luna (@VoteAPL) February 3, 2023
Sen. Marco Rubio , who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated that a Chinese spy balloon appearing in US airspace is "not surprising" given the increasingly brazen espionage of China in recent years, adding that shooting it down was "a mistake" due to the fact that it has "a large payload of sensors" and can "maneuver independently."
A Chinese spy balloon over the U.S. is alarming but not surprising
The level of espionage aimed at our country by Beijing has grown dramatically more intense & brazen over the last 5 years
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 2, 2023
It was a mistake to not shoot down that Chinese spy balloon when it was over a sparsely populated area
This is not some hot air balloon, it has a large payload of sensors roughly the size of two city buses & the ability to maneuver independently
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 3, 2023
