Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
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
Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources: Ethiopia retracted from previously reached agreements within the framework of the negotiating process on the Renaissance Dam.
Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation: The tripartite ministerial meeting regarding the Renaissance Dam did not achieve progress.
Gaza Ministry of Health: 6 Palestinians wounded by IOF fire east of Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: A batch of incendiary balloons were launched towards settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip.
Turkey's Defense Ministry: 5 Kurdistan Workers Party members killed in an airstrike in northern Iraq.
The Iranian Intelligence Ministry says its forces raided several terrorist hideouts in Tehran and Western Azerbaijan and arrested 28 elements.
Iran's Intelligence Ministry says the terror attacks were aimed at undermining Iran's state security and showing Iran as a destabilized nation.
Iran's Intelligence Ministry says it foiled a terrorist plot being planned for Tehran, with all the culprits getting arrested.
Iranian Defense Ministry says has missiles designed with the intention of striking the Israeli occupation, namely the Hajj Qassem Soleimani missile.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The Israeli occupation forces raided Birzeit University and arrested three young men in its vicinity.

US passes bill holding China 'accountable' for balloon incident

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 18 Apr 2023 10:05

The bill emphasizes what Congress believes is an "unacceptable violation of US sovereignty."

  • US passes bill holding China
    The US House of Representatives ahead of President Joe Biden's first State of the Union Address in the US Capitol in Washington, DC, March 1, 2022. (Reuters)

In reaction to the passing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over the United States in February, the US House of Representatives passed legislation calling for export limits and sanctions against China. 

The measure, entitled the Upholding Sovereignty of Airspace (USA) Act, was passed by the House on Monday by a vote of 405-6, with a two-thirds majority necessary for approval.

The measure conveys Congress' belief that the presence of a Chinese high-altitude balloon above the United States earlier this year constituted an "unacceptable violation of US sovereignty" and that China's larger balloon surveillance program posed a threat to countries throughout the world. According to the statute, China would be held accountable for the alleged incident. 

China asserts that the balloon seen above the US was a civilian airship doing scientific research. 

The bill directs the Secretary of State to devise a diplomatic plan to alert friends and partners of the alleged worldwide surveillance balloon operation. 

The measure also requires the Secretary of Commerce to consider the transfer of aerospace-related commodities to China, such as airships and balloons, for export control purposes. 

Related News

N.America box office hits new low

Biden warns GOP extremists: Government shutdown a threat to all

Read next: US reaction to Chinese balloon "hysterical, absurd": Wang Yi

Furthermore, the measure asks for the enforcement of sanctions on Chinese people found to be involved in the country's balloon incident.

The US is still examining recovered balloon components after they were shot down over the Atlantic Ocean after crossing the continental US, allegedly to gather intelligence from critical military facilities.

US officials were aware of more 'Chinese spy balloons': Pentagon leaks

US authorities were aware of up to four suspected Chinese spy balloons besides the one that allegedly sailed over the US mainland and was shot down in February, as per leaked top intelligence. 

In an unreported event, one balloon allegedly passed above a US carrier strike group located in the Pacific Ocean.

The details originate from documents that, according to Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts air national guard, were allegedly leaked to The Washington Post.

Teixeira, 21, was detained last week and charged with espionage on suspicion of disclosing multiple top-secret papers on a Discord chatroom.

  • China
  • spy balloon
  • Chinese balloon
  • suspected "Chinese balloon"
  • United States
  • House of Representatives

Most Read

Ukrainian soldiers ride an APC on the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, on June 5, 2023 (AP)

US sees Ukrainian army demoralized, no chance to win: Seymour Hersh

  • Europe
  • 21 Sep 2023
Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

  • Europe
  • 23 Sep 2023
British mercenary in Ukraine killed by another Brit

British mercenary in Ukraine killed by another Brit

  • Europe
  • 18 Sep 2023
Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

  • Analysis
  • Today

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Furhan Al-Saud addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at United Nations headquarters. (AP)
Palestine

Saudi FM tells UN regional stability hinges on 'Palestinian state'

Nearly two weeks later, Libya toll tops 3,800
MENA

Nearly two weeks later, Libya toll tops 3,800

A man walks past a mural featuring oil pumps and wells in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 21, 2022. (AP)
Latin America

Venezuela boosts oil production amid unilateral restrictive measures

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew
Europe

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

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