New revelations have emerged regarding the Chinese spy balloon that was recently detected near US airspace. Despite initial assurances from the Biden administration that the balloon did not collect or transmit any data, a previously unreported phone call suggests otherwise. The call, which took place on January 27th between President Joe Biden’s top military adviser, Gen. Mark Milley, and NORAD chief Gen. Glen VanHerck, sheds light on the administration’s attempt to keep the balloon’s existence a secret from Congress and the public.
According to multiple former and current administration and congressional officials, there was a deliberate intention to study the balloon and let it pass over without informing anyone. However, this plan was disrupted when the balloon was spotted publicly. The administration now faces criticism for allegedly trying to conceal the incident.
A senior Biden administration official denied these allegations, stating that decisions were made to protect sensitive intelligence capabilities. The official claimed that any attempts to keep the incident quiet were aimed at safeguarding intel equities related to finding and tracking the balloon. They also emphasized that there was never any intention to withhold information from Congress.
During the January 27th phone call, Milley informed VanHerck about the Pentagon’s plan to send up F-22 jets and other aircraft to investigate the balloon. Subsequently, US military jets used targeting pods to determine that the object was a balloon the size of three school buses, equipped with a massive surveillance payload but no offensive capabilities. President Biden himself was not briefed on the balloon until February 1st, and the public only became aware of its existence on February 2nd when NBC News broke the story.
Gen. VanHerck has warned that the Chinese balloon program remains active, and the US has yet to develop effective systems to detect and track such craft. This revelation has exposed significant gaps in the country’s long-range defense capabilities, raising concerns about potential threats to national security. VanHerck stated that the US is currently not where it needs to be in terms of developing deterrence options.
Privately, Biden officials have expressed frustration over the public outcry and consequences of the spy balloon’s reveal. They argue that the reputational damage to China and its impact on US relations pose a far greater threat than the balloon’s entry into US airspace.
The delay in shooting down the surveillance craft has been attributed to safety precautions, as the balloon was reportedly carrying several thousand pounds of equipment. Eventually, the US military shot down the balloon over open water off the coast of South Carolina. This has raised questions about why the action was not taken earlier when the balloon crossed water near Alaska.
As the investigation into the Chinese spy balloon continues, it highlights the ongoing challenges the US faces in detecting and countering potential threats. The incident serves as a reminder of the need to strengthen defense capabilities and develop effective deterrence options.
