Pentagon: At least three chinese spy-balloons flew over US during Trump-administration.

[DetlefK]

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3288543/f-22-safely-shoots-down-chinese-spy-balloon-off-south-carolina-coast/

President Joe Biden ordered the action on Wednesday, but it was delayed until the balloon was over water off the coast of South Carolina to ensure no Americans on the ground were harmed.

"The balloon, which was being used by the PRC in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States, was brought down above U.S. territorial waters," Austin said.

The action was taken in coordination and support of the Canadian government. "We thank Canada for its contribution to tracking and analysis of the balloon through [North American Aerospace Defense Command] as it transited North America," Austin said. "Today's deliberate and lawful action demonstrates that President Biden and his national security team will always put the safety and security of the American people first while responding effectively to the PRC's unacceptable violation of our sovereignty," Austin said referring to the Peoples Republic of China.

...

The balloon did not pose a military or physical threat. Still its intrusion into American airspace over several days was an unacceptable violation of U.S. sovereignty. The official said Chinese balloons briefly transited the continental United States at least three times during the prior administration.

Of course, Trump had no choice but to let these spy-balloons fly over the US unmolested.

After all, his secret chinese bank-account (whose existence he publicly denied) was at risk.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/30/trump-tax-returns-released-us-house-committee

And the preferential treatment of Ivanka Trump's sweat-shops by China's trademark-regulators and workforce-protection-regulators was at risk.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/09/22/ivankas-trademark-requests-were-fast-tracked-in-china-after-trump-was-elected/
https://apnews.com/article/north-america-ap-top-news-ivanka-trump-international-news-apple-inc-f3bbcd6ab2e44085a99153ee854947c1

[BootinUp]

1. Not surprised at all. Nt

[niyad]

2. Colour me sooooooo NOT surprised.

[Judi Lynn]

3. He wouldn't want to bother them. After all, he salutes North Korean officials.

Part of his "charm offensive," no doubt.

[BlackSkimmer]

4. I really don't care under whose administration they visited.

Seems to me we need to find out WHY they keep coming over.

[DetlefK]

5. Because countries spy on each other?????

[TomWilm]

7. US Military to Use High-Altitude Balloons Against China

- 2022: U.S. military’s newest weapon against China and Russia: Hot air balloons.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/05/u-s-militarys-newest-weapon-against-china-and-russia-hot-air-00043860

- 2021: US military testing high-altitude balloons that are steerable and carry cutting-edge payloads.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40638/what-we-know-about-the-high-tech-balloons-lingering-off-the-coasts-of-the-u-s-recently

- 2019: Pentagon testing mass surveillance balloons across the US.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/02/pentagon-balloons-surveillance-midwest

[ProfessorGAC]

6. I Don't Think The Chinese Bank Account...

...had as much to do with his inaction as the callable Chinese LOANS!
He simply couldn't afford to have the Bank of China demand their money back.