• About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Thursday, July 10, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
thehopper.news
  • Home
    • Home
    • About
  • Video
    • Discussion
  • Geopolitics
  • Intel & Security
  • Foreign Affairs
  • News
    • All
    • Politics
    • World
    US imposes sanctions on UN human rights official critical of Israel

    US imposes sanctions on UN human rights official critical of Israel

    Trump ready to back new Russia sanctions bill – Politico

    Trump ready to back new Russia sanctions bill – Politico

    European court rejects Le Pen’s bid to suspend election ban

    European court rejects Le Pen’s bid to suspend election ban

    France detains Russian basketball star at request of US – AFP

    Senior EU diplomat blames global crises for being late to parliament

    Patriots ‘very expensive’ – Trump

    Patriots ‘very expensive’ – Trump

    Dmitry Trenin: This is a long war, and it’s not just about Ukraine

    Dmitry Trenin: This is a long war, and it’s not just about Ukraine

    Hamas to release ten Israeli hostages

    Servicemen arrested in Canada over ‘terrorist’ plot

    Servicemen arrested in Canada over ‘terrorist’ plot

    Child dies from wounds received in Ukrainian drone attack – governor

    Child dies from wounds received in Ukrainian drone attack – governor

No Result
View All Result
thehopper.news
No Result
View All Result
Home News

White House planned to hide Chinese ‘spy balloon’ from public – NBC

by Admin
December 24, 2023
in News, Politics, World
0
White House planned to hide Chinese ‘spy balloon’ from public – NBC
27
SHARES
108
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Published: December 24, 2023 8:57 am
Author: RT

Officials have reportedly said that the damage caused by the scandal outweighed the security threat

Officials from the administration of US President Joe Biden initially hoped to conceal the Chinese balloon incident earlier this year from the public and even Congress, a new report by NBC News has revealed. There were reportedly fears that it could spark public outcry and damage relations with China.

In early February, the US shot down what it described as a suspected Chinese ‘spy balloon’ off the coast of South Carolina, claiming that Beijing was using it to “surveil strategic sites” in the country. Later, however, the Pentagon admitted that the vessel had not been collecting intelligence.

China described the balloon as a “civilian airship” that strayed into US airspace due to force majeure circumstances. At the time, the incident led to a significant strain in relations between Beijing and Washington.

According to an NBC article published on Friday, General Glen VanHerck, the Air Force commander in charge of American airspace, told Biden’s top military adviser, General Mark Milley, on January 27 that for around ten days, they had been tracking a mysterious object flying over the Asia-Pacific. In a previously unreported phone call, VanHerck said the Pentagon planned to send US military jets to assess the object.

According to NBC, Biden was not briefed on the balloon until January 31. He then asked the military to develop a plan for how to deal with it.

On February 1, when the balloon was flying over the US, NBC News asked the White House for comments, and only then did officials organize a briefing for lawmakers, with the public learning of the incident a day later.

Read more

FILE PHOTO: In this image released by the U.S. Navy,  sailors assigned to Assault Craft Unit 4 prepare material recovered off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., in the Atlantic Ocean from the shooting down of a Chinese high-altitude balloon, for transport to the FBI on Feb. 10, 2023.
The latest revelation in the ‘spy balloon’ story exposes the absurdity of US-China relations

“Before it was spotted publicly, there was the intention to study it and let it pass over and not ever tell anyone about it,” a former senior US official briefed on the incident told NBC.

The outlet also said that White House officials privately complained that the political reaction over the balloon was disproportionate to the threat it posed to national security, arguing that the subsequent damage the scandal caused to relations with Beijing was a far greater threat than the balloon itself.

The recent publication sparked an outcry from both the public and lawmakers, raising questions over US intelligence capabilities and the way the incident was handled.

“As if it wasn’t enough that the Chinese spy balloon flew over Montana’s nuclear missile fields unabated, now we find out that the admin intended to hide it from Congress & the American people. The Biden administration must be held accountable,” Senator Steve Daines said in an X (formerly Twitter) post on Saturday.

A senior Biden administration official denied the allegation that there was an attempt to keep the balloon a secret.

“To the extent any of this was kept quiet at all, that was in large part to protect intel equities related to finding and tracking” the official said, referring to intelligence gathering on the balloon. “There was no intention to keep this from Congress at any point.”

Full Article

Tags: Russia Today
Share11Tweet7
Previous Post

Pentagon accuses Tehran of striking oil tanker near India

Next Post

Welsh shops and pubs facing higher taxes

Admin

Admin

Next Post

Welsh shops and pubs facing higher taxes

thehopper.news

Copyright © 2023 The Hopper New

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • Home
    • About
  • Video
    • Discussion
  • Geopolitics
  • Intel & Security
  • Foreign Affairs
  • News

Copyright © 2023 The Hopper New

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.