- First things first—what are the odds China is behind all this? – High. China is known for sending balloons into near space, and the U.S. Air Force chose not to fire a missile at any of the 366 unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) that were detected in 2022. The first UAP, which was shot down off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was confirmed to be a Chinese spy balloon.
- Is there any chance the three mystery crafts were not spying on America? – No. China has significant influence over any private enterprise, and the Chinese government is not a democracy. The balloons were likely dispatched by a Chinese company that is an extension of the Chinese military intelligence regime.
- So what, exactly, were the balloons looking for? – The balloons were likely looking to take lateral images of ground installations, gauge weather patterns, and enhance communications. They can also stay airborne for years at a time, broadcasting data back home in real time.
- So why didn’t the president just tell us the whole, unvarnished truth? – The guiding philosophy in Washington is to avoid a direct conflict with China, and the federal government’s silence on this story reflects a broader reticence to communicate plainly and candidly about national security, American airspace, or UAPs. The Chinese likely wanted to see what the U.S. response would be.
- What does China likely make of our response to its flying objects? – China likely sees this as a way to erode our unity, and the balloons have cast a spotlight on a gaping hole in our national discourse. There was predictable partisan sniping and hysteria, and China likely views this as further confirmation of our national decline.
Published February 25, 2023
Visit The Free Press to read Adam Popescu’s original post The Secrets in Our Skies
