Former President Donald Trump has expressed his dismay regarding President Joe Biden’s remarks regarding a Chinese spy balloon that was shot down in February. “It’s such a stupid statement”, Trump said in an interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier held at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club.
This alleged Chinese spy balloon transited across the United States and came close to several sensitive locations, including Malmstrom Air Force Base, which houses intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as Whiteman Air Force Base, which is used by the Air Force to operate B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.
The Chinese government has claimed that the balloon was only for peaceful scientific purposes, but the U.S. Department of Defense later confirmed the presence of a second Chinese spy balloon flying over Latin American countries a day prior.
Leading Republicans, including more than a dozen Sens. who wrote to President Biden to express their displeasure at the lack of an explanation regarding the violation of U.S. sovereignty that was caused by the incident, have criticized his administration’s handling of the situation. Trump himself seems to agree, declaring “they would have never had a spy balloon if I was president. There wouldn’t be a spy balloon over our country”.
Adding to the ever-growing list of grievances that the Biden administration has with China, there are now reports of increased Chinese spying efforts in Cuba. It is unclear why the Biden administration has failed to nip this developing issue in the bud.
Biden, however, remains hopeful, telling reporters last Saturday that he still intends to meet with Chinese president Xi Jinping and “talk about legitimate differences we have but also how there are areas we can get along”.
Americans, however, remain unconvinced that Biden has an effective plan of action to handle the Chinese spying threats. They remember too clearly the embarrassing Chinese spy balloon incident of February and are leery of any potential collaboration with the world’s second largest superpower.
Trump’s message is clear: the United States needs to take a much tougher stance against China and its indiscretions before it is deemed too late. Otherwise, we may continue to make embarrassing and costly mistakes while China continues to grow in power and influence.