comment: >
  
  We should send a bigger balloon and fly it around Beijing. Don’t even put any spy stuff on it, just float it around.
context: What was china’s goal here? Did they think the us wouldn’t notice this balloon? Or was this is genuine error on their part >
  
  Probaby just stirring up shit to shore up their popularity at home, it has been rough for the CCP with the protests against the covid lockdowns and them folding to the people. Nationalism is like the major source of their support at this point. If the US is angry at China, Chinese peope will stay angry at the US. >
  
  They're such sh** stirrers. >
  
  Reminds me of the time China's Spy vessel was caught collecting data in Australian waters on US-AU AIR and Naval bases that they denied was collecting sensitive data, until Australian surveillance craft released a map of it deliberately B -lining for military bases and collecting sensitive information. >
  
  Beeline >
  
  Buzz buzz >
  
  Bees!? >
  
  Not the bees >
  
  Knew it was wicker man, and I still clicked because I love this scene. Thank u for the reminder >
  
  As much as I love that scene the bear punch still wins for me! >
  
  This is a big deal for Boeing who was hoping to get China to approve the 737 max certification during this meeting.
  Ironic a balloon might capsize an airliner. >
  
  I am not gonna defend China but the 737max should never have been certified.
  The sheer corruption Boeing did to get it out of the door and how the US is pressuring other countries to recertify it disgusts me. They should have been punished by the market for the scandal, but instead they largely got away with it. >
  
  They didn't want to upgrade the fusilage to accommodate the bigger engines.
  They moved the engines up in the wing in order to give them adequate clearance.
  This destabilised the plane, which they fixed with a software patch.
  Fuck Boeing, fuck the men who directed the decision, and fuck the engineers who complied. >
  
  It's probably another case of accountants telling engineers what to do. >
  
  They got caught and no one believes their two made up reasons >
  
  Well China admitted that they messed up, which they never do, so we know they're lying. >
  
  Agree with the logic but What’re you implying? >
  
  U.S. We're cancelling our diplomatic visit to China because of the giant spy blimp flying over our country.
  China Whoaaa there pal, I don't know where you get off accusing us of blimp spying but I think we deserve an apology for such a heinous accusation!  Btw the giant spy blimp IS ours but still... >
  
  We're in civ 7 simulation >
  
  When is the UN resolution to ban crabs? >
  
  I want my nuclear Gandhi! >
  
  Sorry Xi, it’s not us, it’s you >
  
  “Did you say Abe Lincoln?” >
  
  It is actually a little funny though to think that some Chinese diplomat would actually be disappointed at not having to sit at a conference table with Anthony Blinken trading diplo-speak through interpreters. They’re like thank Mao I can just go golfing instead and then hit the club later. >
  
  It is said that he was to meet with Xi directly, which was a sharp deviation from normal protocol. This was due to Xi trying to put on a charm offensive to reset relations. The spy balloon debacle is yet another embarrassment for Xi because the timing of this public spectacle thoroughly discredits his attempt >
  
  Highly embarrassing for Xi and he’ll find it hard to save face. >
  
  Conspiracy theory: China is going to increasingly do these "not quite so bold to warrant a response but still an affront to US security" in the coming months to:
  1) Provide argumentative ammo to the right-wing that arming Ukraine is a fool's errand when China is humiliating us and violating our airspace (Their words, not mine. And they're wrong)
  2) Make Biden look weak by doing things that shock the public and anger half the county but (any rational person can understand) do not merit an aggressive response. 
  Just my thoughts. >
  
  People from all over the world walk across our border everyday undocumented so why would Biden worry about a balloon. Just my thoughts. >
  
  Most of arrested will be released within 24 hour and walk away with just a court date. All of them who crossed has been told, if they meet a border control agents, to be fully cooperate with them, don't try to run or resist. >
  
  Every time China gets caught spying on countries that are by some coincidence rival nations to China, it claims those spy balloons or ships were 'civilian survey' apparatus.
  They used the same balloons on India and Japan before too. More so, they also used their spy ships against India. All while claiming that they were 'civilian apparatus'. 
  What a joke. >
  
  Why balloons though. You can achieve just as much if not more with a modern day drone or spy plane can't you?
  You can hijack signals from the comfort of your own chair.
  Is it for reconnaissance, if so why? Google earth had already maped the while damn earth with their own ballon and car and camel.
  Is there something they NEED to see over in Montana that's not already on Google earth? >
  
  Could be used for signals intelligence. You can’t do that as effectively with a satellite due to the distance, space and weight constraints, power constraints, etc.
  Also a spy plane or drone flying over the middle of America would be an undeniably deliberate violation of US territorial sovereignty causing a huge hit to relations. Of course, it would never get there as US fighters would intercept and shoot it down long before that. >
  
  Are they saying the issue is just hot air inflated out of proportion? >
  
  Get out and go straight to jail, that is diabolical >
  
  
  It prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to abruptly cancel a high-stakes Beijing trip aimed at easing tensions. 
  
  Cancelling our effort to ease tensions because there are tensions. >
  
  Blinken should visit Taiwan instead >
  
  Departing remarks: "I'd like to thank the taiwanese for their hospitality. You have a lovely country..." >
  
  What did they do with our drone in 2016? >
  
  Stealth ballon malfunctioned. >
  
  There is some serious face saving in progress... >
  
  Of course you did China... Your leader Xi Xinping looks incredibly weak playing with balloons. 
  Keep playing around. We'll bring out our latest toys too. >
  
  We’re less than 2 years from our next presidential election. China keeps poking at us. Nothing too bad to justify any sort Of response but enough to remind us all that they are there. It sows discord among Americans. Right wing candidates run on a platform on ensuring our borders are safe and your children won’t be bombed. Left keeps talking about Ukraine (which the vast voting public couldn’t even pick out on a map). Right wing candidate defeats Biden. China and Russia get what they wanted. Russia used Facebook to scare people to Trump. China will use their military. Rinse repeat. >
  
  Wow, they didn't blinken an eye. >
  
  What a strong response by the US to a balloon still up there violating US airspace for 3 days, changing directions at will. /s >
  
  k >
  
  Chinese spy balloon benefits Russia:
  Chinese spy balloon diverts US attention away from Russia's war in Ukraine.  Congress is discussing the spy balloon, and not the Russian special operation, or their forthcoming spring offensive, or donating more military hardware.
  Flap over shooting down the balloon benefits Russia by reminding US it needs military gear to possibly fight China.  Therefore, the US should not give away the bulk of its military reserves to Ukraine in case the US needs them to pivot more to the Pacific area.
  Plus China was not making headlines, thus less pressure on Taiwan. >
  
  I'm not a fan of the CCP but cooome on.. Anyone that believes this spy balloon narrative is below flat earth intelligence. >
  
  China is just plain taunting the United States >
  
  And we’re doing what should be done in that situation. Ignoring the troll who isn’t posing an active threat, and not showing our hands on how we plan to deal with actual threats in the future. 
  Did you want some other response from the US? >
  
  Makes me wonder if they were trying to prevoke one of our anti-air defense systems. Trying to figure out if A: we would use a counter missile to shoot it down or B: Use one of our High Powered Lasers to pop the thing >
  
  Literally no one here has evidence its a spy balloon. Its embarassing for China but unless youre an expert on reconnaissance balloons and actually got your hands on the thing. Literally none of you can say its a spy balloon.
  But definitely a violation of airspace and embarrassing for China but i just love the msm labelling it a “spy” balloon with zero evidence.
  The matter of fact is its more likely a stray weather balloon.
  Dont @me cause you lap up mindless worldnews and dramatic headlines >
  
  We don't have satellites and spy planes flying over China collecting data? >
  
  Satellites over China, yes, same as China has spy satellites flying over the US. US spy planes and balloons flying over Chinese territory, no. >
  
  Why no to planes? >
  
  No one owns space. We have treaties with everyone to this effect. They do own the airspace below space. >
  
  Doesn't class A end at 60,000?
  edit: anyone? >
  
  Why not destroy their spy vessels???  Sink boats and shoot their shit down.  If their not there in the first place, nothing happened >
  
  That is likely the exact reaction being fished for. Can't play checkers while everyone else is playing chess. >
  
  Let's see them play down more extreme sanctions. >
  
  all the news brewing in a kindergarten close to you. >
  
  Him:  One moment, it was like a small moon…
  Me:  That’s no moon…