Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: The ceasefire will take effect today at 12 noon
Israeli media: Israeli military divisions have been ordered to prepare for a complete withdrawal or repositioning to the rear in the near future
Canada welcomes "Israel" and Hamas's agreement to implement the first phase of Trump's plan to end the war.
Al-Dali to Al Mayadeen: The presence of resistance leaders at the negotiations and the signing of the agreement, after "Israel" attempted to assassinate them in Qatar, is a humiliation for the occupation.
Al-Dali to Al Mayadeen: The agreement will be signed in the presence of Resistance leaders, led by Hamas, with senior official Khalil al-Hayya set to sign the agreement.
Trump to Fox News: I believe Iran is going to be involved in the peace situation.
Trump: Gaza will be rebuilt.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The occupation forces continue their violations, and warplanes are entering Gazan airspace at this moment.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The fate of thousands of civilians and journalists remains unknown.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The occupation forces continue bombing various areas of the Gaza Strip.

Republicans lambast Biden over handling of Chinese balloon

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 5 Feb 2023 23:15
3 Min Read

Republicans criticize Biden over his late orders to down the Chinese unmanned civilian balloon that floated across the US.

  • x
  • Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. The balloon was struck by a missile from an F-22 fighter just off Myrtle Beach,
    An F-22 fighter downing the Chinese balloon by a missile off Myrtle Beach on Feb. 4, 2023 (AP)

Republicans slammed President Joe Biden on Sunday over his handling of the Chinese balloon that was shot down after floating across the US for days.

Marco Rubio, vice chair of the Senate intelligence committee, criticized Biden for waiting so long to alert the public as the Chinese balloon made its "unprecedented" flight over America, saying this amounted to "dereliction of duty."

Rubio claimed the overflight was a brazen effort by Beijing timed to embarrass Biden just before his State of the Union message on Tuesday and to disrupt a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China.

Appearing on CNN, the US official said Beijing's message was, "We have the ability to do this, and America can't do anything about it."

On his part, Representative Mike Turner, who chairs the House intelligence committee, used a football comparison in blasting Biden for waiting to down the balloon.

"Clearly the President taking it down over the Atlantic is ... sort of like tackling the quarterback after the game is over. The satellite had completed its mission. It should never have been allowed to enter the United States," Turner said.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday expressed China's "strong dissatisfaction and protests against the use of force by the United States to attack the unmanned civilian airship."

The Ministry stressed that China reserved "the right to make further necessary responses."

Related News

Trump says Gaza phase one agreed on, to give speech in Israeli Knesset

Hamas announces reaching an agreement for ceasefire in Gaza

Beijing has made clear that the balloon was primarily gathering weather data and that it had been blown off course.

Asked about possible further consequences for China, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told CNN, "You can expect any further developments will be appropriate in response to what happened."

Buttigieg said the downing of the balloon operation was carried out "in a very effective, excellent way," without damage or injury on the ground.

⚡️What appears to be a proximity triggered missile was fired from an F-22 raptor in order to shoot down the Chinese Balloon. pic.twitter.com/7blNYjPkIK

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) February 4, 2023

In this regard, Admiral Mike Mullen, the former chair of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, indicated on Sunday that he expected the balloon's debris would be retrieved "relatively shortly" from waters off South Carolina.

The Chinese balloon was shot down on Saturday by a missile fired from a US fighter jet.

Asked if he thought elements in the Chinese military might have launched the balloon intentionally to disrupt the Blinken visit -- the secretary's first to China since Biden took office -- Mullen said, "Clearly, I think that's the case." 

Mullen said the craft was maneuverable, rejecting China's suggestion that it might have blown off course.

"It has propellers on it," he said. "This was not an accident. This was deliberate. It was intelligence."

Read more: Unconfirmed explosion video above Montana after balloon sighting

  • United States
  • Republican Party
  • Republicans
  • US
  • China
  • Joe Biden

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli armored vehicle moves on a street of a local market during a military raid in the West Bank refugee camp of Balata, Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli settlers kill Palestinian youth near Ramallah amid raids

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran interested in resuming nuclear talks: Lavrov

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during a news conference at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, April 25, 2025 (AP)
Politics

IMF head flags US budget, Europe Defense spending challenges

Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at UN headquarters (AP)
Politics

Meloni faces ICC complaint over Gaza genocide complicity with Israelis

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS