The White House has dismissed China’s accusations that the United States sent spy balloons into its airspace over the last year. National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, categorically denied the allegations during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” He stated that the claims made by China were simply “not true” and that the United States was “not flying balloons over China.”
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, had claimed during a press briefing that it was “common” for the United States to send spy balloons into other countries. However, Kirby’s strong denial of these allegations casts doubt on the validity of China’s claims.
The accusations were made over a week after a U.S. F-22 shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina. This incident sparked speculation that the U.S. may also fly spy balloons over other countries, causing concern among U.S. officials about the implications of such actions.
Despite China’s past reaction to perceived provocations, such as the visit by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, it is unclear why they did not respond more harshly to the alleged U.S. spy balloons. Furthermore, China’s delay in making the balloon allegations raises questions about the motives behind the claims.
Overall, while it is not outside the realm of possibility that the U.S. has deployed spy balloons over other countries, China’s delayed and seemingly defensive allegations appear to be an attempt to salvage their image. The White House’s strong denial of the claims reinforces the need for skepticism when evaluating statements made by government officials.
