{"id":1834158,"date":"2023-02-03T12:51:27","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T17:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1834158"},"modified":"2023-02-03T12:52:47","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T17:52:47","slug":"chinese-spy-balloon-mccarthy-calls-for-immediate-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chinese-spy-balloon-mccarthy-calls-for-immediate-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese Spy Balloon: McCarthy Calls For Immediate Action"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchinese-spy-balloon-mccarthy-calls-for-immediate-action%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1834158&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47-->\n<p>House Speaker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/t-kevin-mccarthy\">Kevin McCarthy<\/a> (R-Calif.). Requested a \u201cGang of Eight\u201d After the Pentagon had announced that it was tracking a Chinese spy balloon hovering over the United States, a classified briefing was held on February 2.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cGang of Eight\u201d The four congressional leaders representing the Senate and House, and the chairs of the Senate Select Committees on Intelligence and their ranking members.<\/p>\n<p>Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. It was announced by Gen. Pat Ryder that it was tracking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/pentagon-tracking-suspected-chinese-spy-balloon-over-northern-us_5030534.html\">\u201ca high altitude surveillance balloon<\/a>\u201d Flying at an altitude over the United States \u201cwell above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Senior defense officials claimed that the Pentagon has made a number of improvements to its security measures. \u201cvery high confidence\u201d that the balloon belongs to the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC), the Chinese regime\u2019s official name.<\/p>\n<p>Official added that the Pentagon has \u201cengaged PRC officials with urgency\u201d You can contact the Chinese Embassy in the United States or the U.S. Embassy In China through many channels.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have communicated to them the seriousness with which we take this issue,\u201d The official stated that the message was sent to China, but did not provide details.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5028336\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/02\/02\/lloyd-austin-and-philippines-defense-1200x766.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy size-medium wp-image-5028336\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/themes\/eet\/images\/white.png\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/lloyd-austin-and-philippines-defense-600x383-1.jpeg\" alt=\"US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin\" width=\"600\" height=\"383\"   style=\"display:none\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5028336\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/lloyd-austin-and-philippines-defense-600x383-1.jpeg\" alt=\"US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin\" width=\"600\" height=\"383\" \/><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a> U.S. Defense secretary Lloyd Austin (R), walks past military guards as he arrives at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines, Feb. 2, 2023. (Rolex Delapena-Pool\/Getty Images)<\/figure>\n<p>The official said that President Joe Biden had been briefed about the situation, and asked for military options. Lloyd Austin, Defense Secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us-secures-access-to-philippines-military-bases-improving-deterrence-against-china_5029092.html\">Traveling in the Philippines<\/a>A meeting was convened to decide if the balloon should be dropped.<\/p>\n<p>Gen. Mark Milley (chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) and Gen. Glen VanHerck (head of U.S. Northern Command), strongly urged against the shooting of it down. They said that falling debris could pose a threat to the people living on the ground.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe had been looking at whether there was an option yesterday over some sparsely populated areas in Montana. But we just couldn\u2019t buy down the risk enough to feel comfortable recommending shooting it down yesterday,\u201d The official added.<\/p>\n<p>Montana is home to the Malmstrom Air Force Base, one of the country\u2019s nuclear missile silo fields.<\/p>\n<p>Official said that the Pentagon had determined that the balloon had been launched. \u201climited additive value\u201d China has a lot more information than the Pentagon about what it is able collect from its satellites in Low Earth Orbit. The Pentagon, however, has taken \u201cmitigation steps\u201d According to the official, it was to prevent possible foreign intelligence gathering.<\/p>\n<h2><b>China<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>A bipartisan group of lawmakers condemned Beijing for the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon.<\/p>\n<p>Reps. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/t-mike-gallagher\">Mike Gallagher<\/a> (R-Wis.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.)\u2014the chair and ranking member on the House\u2019s Select Committee on China, respectively\u2014issued a joint statement saying that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) should not have \u201con-demand access to American Airspace.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot only is this a violation of American sovereignty, coming only days before Secretary Blinken\u2019s trip to the PRC, but it also makes clear that the CCP\u2019s recent diplomatic overtures do not represent a substantive change in policy,\u201d They wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIndeed, this incident demonstrates that the CCP threat is not confined to distant shores\u2014it is here at home and we must act to counter this threat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., wrote that Gallagher was not the same as Krishnamoorthi \u201care spot on\u201d They will be able to help you with your assessment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party cannot be allowed to violate American airspace. America must meet the threat they pose to our livelihoods and our security,\u201d Deluzio wrote.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5026955\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/02\/01\/Antony-Blinken-1200x800.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy size-medium wp-image-5026955\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/themes\/eet\/images\/white.png\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Antony-Blinken-600x400-1.jpg\" alt=\"Antony Blinken\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5026955\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Antony-Blinken-600x400-1.jpg\" alt=\"Antony Blinken\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a> During the review conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in New York, August 1, 2022, Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the United Nations General Assembly. (David \u2018Dee\u2019 Delgado\/Reuters)<\/figure>\n<p>On February 5, Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China for a two-day visit. It is not yet clear if the leak of the spy balloon might have an effect on the trip. The Epoch Times reached out to the State Department in an effort to get their comment.<\/p>\n<p>Several GOP lawmakers also commented on Blinken\u2019s upcoming trip to China.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) Twitter user Sen. Tom Cotton (R.-Ark.), tweeted to state that Blinken must cancel his trip.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Mike Lawler (R.N.Y.), requested that Blinken \u201cmust hold President Xi [Jinping] accountable during his visit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is unacceptable. @SecBlinken, you must raise this during your visit to China this weekend,\u201d wrote Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepYoungKim\/status\/1621345617556520960\">Twitter<\/a>She said that she was looking forward to receiving a detailed briefing from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n<p>China\u2019s Foreign Ministry said Friday that a balloon was a civilian \u201cairship\u201d Used for research, primarily meteorological purposes.<\/p>\n<p>According to the statement, the airship&#8217;s steering capabilities are limited. \u201cdeviated far from its planned course\u201d Winds. It stated that China regretted the unintentional entry of the airship in U.S. airspace.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Montana<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) Austin was contacted by Sen. Steve Daines (R.Mont.). \u201cfull security briefing\u201d The Biden administration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe fact that this balloon was occupying Montana airspace creates significant concern that Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB) and the United States\u2019 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) fields are the target of this intelligence gathering mission,\u201d Daines wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is vital to establish the flight path of this balloon, any compromised U.S. national security assets, and all telecom or IT infrastructure on the ground within the U.S. that this spy balloon was utilizing,\u201d He went on. \u201cThere is no higher priority for your administration than the safety and security of the American people and it is imperative that your administration reassure them of that fact at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5031388\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/02\/03\/GettyImages-1238904720-1200x801.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy size-medium wp-image-5031388\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/themes\/eet\/images\/white.png\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/GettyImages-1238904720-600x400-1.jpg\" alt=\"Epoch Times Photo\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5031388\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/GettyImages-1238904720-600x400-1.jpg\" alt=\"Epoch Times Photo\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a> Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) questions Jerome Powell, the Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, as he testifies before a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, DC on March 3, 2022. (Tom Williams-Pool\/Getty Images)<\/figure>\n<p>Rep. Matt Rosendale (R.Mont.), is another Montana lawmaker.On Twitter, he asked Biden to recognise the dangers posed by China.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s unacceptable to allow communist China to invade our airspace\u2014this is another clear example of Chinese aggression,\u201d Rosendale wrote. \u201cPresident Biden must start putting the American people first and recognize that China is a threat to our freedom, values, and way of life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (a Republican) issued a statement stating that he had \u201creceived an informational briefing\u201d The suspected Chinese spy balloon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom the spy balloon to the Chinese Communist Party spying on Americans through TikTok to CCP-linked companies buying American farmland, I\u2019m deeply troubled by the constant stream of alarming developments for our national security,\u201d Gianforte wrote.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Requested a \u201cGang of Eight\u201d After the Pentagon had announced that it was tracking a Chinese spy balloon hovering over the United States, a classified briefing was held on February 2. The \u201cGang of Eight\u201d The four congressional leaders representing the Senate and House, and the chairs of the Senate &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1834161,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[4625,17453,3755,4117,3663,6893],"class_list":["post-1834158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report","tag-action","tag-balloon","tag-calls","tag-chinese","tag-mccarthy","tag-spy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1834158","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1834158"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1834158\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1834161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1834158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1834158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1834158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}