• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Economy Chinese surveillance balloon: Pentagon to brief US Senate on Feb. 15, Schumer says
Economy

Chinese surveillance balloon: Pentagon to brief US Senate on Feb. 15, Schumer says

by February 6, 2023
by February 6, 2023 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

The Pentagon will give the full Senate a briefing on the Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday after traversing the continental United States, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on Sunday. 

The Gang of Eight, which consists of eight Republican and Democrat leaders from both chambers of congress, will be briefed as soon as Tuesday. 

The Department of Defense’s Office of Net Assessment will conduct the briefing for the full Senate on Feb. 15. 

‘The briefing involves where we stand with respect to China on everything from surveillance capabilities to research and development, to advanced weapons systems and other critical platforms,’ Sen. Schumer said at a press conference on Sunday. 

‘It will determine which side, China or the United States, has the upper hand in toe-to-toe conflicts, both economic and geo-military.’

An F-22 fighter jet fired a missile at the balloon when it was several nautical miles off the Carolina coast on Saturday afternoon. It had first entered U.S. airspace north of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands on Jan. 28 and was spotted on Wednesday above Montana, which has fields of nuclear missile silos at Malmstrom Air Force Base. 

Republicans have pilloried President Biden for waiting several days until the balloon was over the ocean to shoot it down. 

‘I think more damaging than any surveillance is assessing our response,’ Sen. Rand Paul, R-K.Y., told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on ‘Sunday Morning Futures.’ 

‘Since we’ve entered into a nuclear age, there are responses that have to occur in seconds to minutes, and the fact that this administration would dither for days over a balloon I think gives pause to us about how well we’re protected and whether or not they have the ability to make decisions that would have to be made in seconds or minutes.’

Schumer hit back at that criticism on Sunday, accusing Republicans of ‘playing politics with U.S. intelligence.’

‘We sent a clear message to China that this is not acceptable. We protected civilians. We gained more intelligence while protecting our own sensitive information,’ Schumer said. ‘The bottom line here is that shooting down this surveillance balloon over water wasn’t just the safest option, but it was the one that maximized our intelligence payload.’

President Biden said that he wanted to shoot the balloon down on Wednesday, but intelligence officials wanted to wait until it was safe to do so. 

This may not have been the first time that China attempted to spy on the U.S. with a balloon. A senior administration official told Fox News Digital on Sunday that U.S. intelligence assesses that Chinese surveillance balloons ‘transited the continental U.S. briefly at least three times during the prior administration and once that we know of at the beginning of this administration, but never for this duration of time.’

Former President Trump and national security officials from his administration, meanwhile, denied that any balloons were detected over the U.S. while he was in office. 

‘This never happened. It would have never happened,’ Trump told Fox News Digital on Sunday.

‘It never happened with us under the Trump administration and if it did, we would have shot it down immediately.’ 

Fox News’ Brooke Singman and Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report. 

Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • Republicans keep pressure on NPR and controversial CEO amid political bias scandal
  • Solana and Cardano: New lows and targets for Thursday
  • Cigarette smuggling has crippled aid delivery in Gaza as smokes go for $25 apiece
  • GOP senators pledge to block any non-spending-related bills Schumer brings to the floor ahead of next deadline
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
Hunter Biden’s former business associate has raked in over $500K from pro-Biden super PAC
next post
Chinese spy balloons over US during Trump admin ‘discovered after’ he left office: senior Biden official

You may also like

House Republican critical of Biden impeachment push demands his removal...

February 27, 2024

Israel rejects UN, aid agencies criticism that Gaza is on...

January 23, 2024

House passes McCarthy’s debt ceiling bill by two votes, four...

April 27, 2023

Morning Glory: The Biden versus Trump debates, part one

June 25, 2024

Did Biden call UK PM Sunak ‘prejudiced’? White House pressed...

June 15, 2023

Hunter Biden attended 4 state dinners as Rosemont Seneca chairman,...

September 6, 2023

Party takeover: Trump installs top ally and daughter-in-law to steer...

March 9, 2024

McCarthy says Trump showing ‘real leadership’ to the world after...

July 17, 2024

Blinken refuses to criticize Musk, who says he denied Ukraine’s...

September 11, 2023

2023 in political scandals: A Senate sex tape and indictments...

December 31, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Week Ahead: NIFTY Stays In A Defined Range; Moving Past This Level Crucial For Resumption Of Upmove

      May 31, 2025
    • Breakouts, Momentum & Moving Averages: 10 Must-See Stock Charts Right Now

      May 31, 2025
    • Leadership Rotation Could Confirm Corrective Phase

      May 30, 2025
    • Run Your Stock Portfolio Like a Pro Sports Team

      May 30, 2025
    • U.S. foreign tax bill sends jitters across Wall Street

      May 30, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,765 views
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,472 views
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 2,451 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,432 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,308 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,106)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,582)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • Week Ahead: NIFTY Stays In A Defined Range; Moving Past...

      May 31, 2025
    • Breakouts, Momentum & Moving Averages: 10 Must-See Stock Charts Right...

      May 31, 2025
    • Leadership Rotation Could Confirm Corrective Phase

      May 30, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,106)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,582)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    Maldives bans Israelis from entering country...

    June 3, 2024

    WATCH: Top Republicans showered with boos...

    February 25, 2024

    SAP SE: $277B Giant’s Growth Trajectory...

    October 4, 2024
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here