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A purported spy ballon launched by the Chinese government moved across the northern part of South Carolina on Saturday morning – with sightings of the ominous white orb reported over Rock Hill and Lancaster, S.C.
The balloon is expected to fly over the Myrtle Beach area on Saturday around noon – setting up a potential global geopolitical showdown.
What will the administration of U.S. president Joe Biden do once the balloon crosses over the Atlantic Ocean into America’s territorial waters?
Good question …
A better question? Why wasn’t this surveillance device shot down the moment it was detected over American air space (a.k.a. the Air Defense Identification Zone of North America)?
“The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground,” a Pentagon spokesman told CNN.
Officials say the orb is moving east approximately 60,000 feet above the earth.
The Chinese government insists the white balloon is a civilian meteorological airship with an exclusively scientific purpose and limited steering capability – one that veered off course due to unexpectedly high winds.
U.S. officials have disputed that contention, arguing the floating orb is a “high-altitude surveillance balloon.”
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“We know that it’s a surveillance balloon,” the Pentagon spokesman continued. “We do know that the balloon has violated U.S. airspace and international law which is unacceptable.”
The scandal over the balloon comes six months after former U.S. speaker Nancy Pelosi enraged China by making a formal visit to Taiwan – an island nation over which China claims sovereignty.
Whether the balloon is shot down or not, it has already sparked a geopolitical crisis. U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken cancelled a planned trip to Beijing on Friday – calling the alleged Chinese espionage activity an “irresponsible act and a clear violation of U.S. sovereignty and international law.”
UPDATE: Balloon shot down over U.S. territorial waters off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children.
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8 comments
Wonder what would’ve happened if it had entered the no-fly zone over the White House?
Test test
The USA should punish China by standing back and letting their current decline continue until their country is down to South Carolina levels of destitution.
Hmmmm….maybe we could help that process along. Let’s send them all of our RINO legislators who signed the “loyalty pledge”, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Lindsey Graham, and a few others who helped make this state what it is, today.
Maybe we could help that situation along! How about we send them every RINO in our Legislature who signed the “loyalty pledge”, as well as the likes of Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Lindsey Graham, and crud who have helped drag our state down over the years. Maybe they will do for China, what they did “for” us.
Maybe we could help that situation along! How about we send them every RINO in our Legislature who signed the “loyalty pledge”, as well as the likes of Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Lindsey Graham, and other cruds who have helped drag our state down over the years. Maybe they will do for China, what they did “for” us.
“The scandal over the balloon comes six months after former U.S. speaker Nancy Pelosi enraged China by making a formal visit to Taiwan ”
And 25 years after House Speaker Newt Gingrich enraged them by visiting Taiwan. They get enraged a lot.
I think they probably have many satellites that they can see anything they want!