Sen. Schumer: Senate Will Get “Full Briefing” on China

Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) revealed all Senate A briefing will be given to the public on February 15th about China. The Suspected spy balloon controversy.

“The full Senate, all senators of both parties, will have a larger and full China briefing next week. And that is something that I think will be very important, serious, and hopefully nonpolitical,” Schumer spoke at a press conference. “Under this full brief, all senators in both parties will be briefed by the Department of Defense on their Office of Net Assessment US-China Overmatch Study.”

CHINA ‘STRONGLY DIES OF’ US SHOOTING DEAD SPY BALLOON, DANGLES RETAIL

Schumer was briefed on Sunday about the alleged spy balloon crisis. The briefing for the full Senate body will entail details about China’s surveillance capabilities from the Department of Defense’s Office of Net Assessment. Schumer stated that members of the Gang of Eight who have been cleared to receive classified debriefings are expected to be briefed about China by Tuesday.

He also dismissed Republican criticisms about President Joe Biden’s handling the suspected spy satellite that flew through U.S. skies for approximately eight days. The Biden administration was criticized by detractors for failing to take action sooner to bring down the high-altitude balloon. After informing the public Thursday about its existence, the military took it down Saturday.

“We are hearing GOP criticism of the balloon mission — that they are saying we should have shot down the balloon the minute we saw it. Schumer responded with two words to these GOP criticisms. “They are premature and they are politically motivated.” Schumer added.

China claimed the high-altitude balloon was a civilian aircraft used for meteorological purposes — something the Pentagon rejected. Defense officials defended their decision to not down the device sooner because they were concerned about creating a debris field that could pose a threat to civilians.

“Our friends are playing politics with U.S. intelligence. We sent a clear message to China that this is not acceptable. We protected civilians. We gained more intelligence while protecting our own sensitive information. And the bottom line here is shooting down the surveillance balloon over water wasn’t just the safest option, but it was the one that maximized our intelligence payload,” He added.

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According to some reports, the payload of the balloon was larger than multiple buses. The balloon was brought down by the South Carolina coast. Beijing expressed strong disapproval at the U.S. shooting down of the balloon. After the public disclosures, Secretary of State Antony Blinken delayed his planned trip to China.

Schumer also pointed out that the Biden administration contemplates additional action against China as a response to China’s protests. “brazen” It was also highlighted that the military is positioned to recover any remnants of the device. “can learn a great deal about China’s capabilities and what they are up to.”