Amid the intensifying war of nerves between the U.S. and China over the shooting down of a Chinese reconnaissance balloon, a battle of responsibility is taking place within the U.S. and the conflict is spreading. The Republican Party, which attacked the Joe Biden administration’s shooting down of a reconnaissance balloon 7 days after invading US airspace as a ‘belated response’, is pushing for Congress to pass a resolution condemning President Biden.
Politico, an American political media outlet, reported on the 5th (local time) that “Republican House members are discussing a resolution condemning the Biden administration’s belated response (inaction).” The Republican Party is known to be pushing for the passage of a resolution on the 7th, when President Biden will address the State of the Union in Congress.
Republican Tom Cotton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Fox News that “(this incident) is a disgrace to the United States. The Chinese reconnaissance balloon was a test of President Biden’s strength and determination, but unfortunately he failed.” Republican Senator Marco Rubio also said, “The president could have explained this in front of the camera in the beginning, but I don’t understand why he didn’t. dereliction of duty,” he said. Republican Senate floor leader Mitch McConnell, who took part in President Biden’s first on-site visit of the new year and showed a cooperative approach, also issued a statement and criticized “the Biden administration was indecisive.”
On the other hand, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appeared on CNN that day and refuted, saying, “President Biden’s method is to protect Americans,” and “Our military has done a great job.” Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also said the Republican criticism was “premature” and said, “The balloon must be dropped into the sea so that the intelligence authorities can investigate the wreckage of the balloon.”
Officials in the Donald Trump administration protested at a Pentagon briefing the previous day, saying it was not true about the statement that Chinese reconnaissance balloons had invaded US airspace at least three times during the Trump administration. A truth battle between the former and current administrations took place.
Former President Trump claimed on social media that it was “fake news that never happened” and that “China respected Trump for doing this.” Former White House national security adviser John Bolton said, “I can say with 100% certainty that there has been no balloon flight like this.”
The Washington Post (WP) quoted a high-ranking official in the Biden administration, saying, “In the past, there were two Chinese reconnaissance balloon flights near Florida and one near Texas, Hawaii, and Guam.” It was discovered later.” At the time of the Trump administration, it is interpreted to mean that it was not reported not only to the White House, but also to higher authorities such as the Pentagon and intelligence agencies.
Defense One reported that the call sign for the F-22 fighter jet that shot down the Chinese reconnaissance balloon was named after the American pilot Frank Luke Jr. who shot down 14 German surveillance balloons in World War I. did. Bloomberg reported that the downing operation was an air-to-air engagement at the highest altitude (over 17.7 km above the ground) since the F-22 was deployed in 2006.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.