Fox News reported that Republican Senators Josh Hawley and Dan Sullivan have expressed concerns over American companies allegedly manufacturing the Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina.
According to the senators, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the State Department, and the Department of Defense have been negligent in providing a “definitive answer” during a Thursday classified briefing. The balloon was first spotted in Montana and traversed the entire continental United States, drawing the attention of the national media.
The senators are urging for the details of the classified briefing to be made public, claiming that the American people should be aware of the extent of the challenges.
Sullivan highlighted the fact that American companies should not be assisting in the construction of spy satellites that could potentially be used against their own citizens.
The balloon was shot down over the United States’ territorial waters beyond South Carolina to avoid endangering civilians on the ground. Parts with English-language branding were discovered at the balloon’s crash site, leading to concerns that the Chinese military may be using American companies to enhance their intelligence capabilities.
Republican voters are calling for a thorough investigation to ensure that American companies are not contributing to the Chinese military’s espionage efforts, emphasizing the importance of protecting American interests and preventing foreign adversaries from accessing sensitive intelligence.
The Chinese government has a history of human rights violations, cyber-attacks, and intellectual property theft, posing a significant threat to American national security.
The FBI is currently analyzing the remains of the spy balloon, and more information is expected to be released in the coming days. Republican voters are urging the government to take prompt action to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, and to increase vigilance and scrutiny of foreign actors attempting to compromise American national security.
