Does seem like a set up and shooting it down might give them straight out permission to take out one of our spy satellites.
It isn’t as though Blinken’s trip was going to further American interests.....
Someone has reasoned that we can learn more regarding China’s communication with the balloon payload.
This is all about the optics.
The Corrupt-in-Chief wouldn’t let the AF shoot it down over Montana, the least populous state in the Union. Can’t have that with Blinken heading to China for negotiations. The ChiComs might not fork over his 10%.
How much did the Big Guy get from the ChiComs through Hunter as divulged through his laptop? At least the bought and paid-for b@stardo stays bought.
This is probably a good thing since Blinken would just sell out the country some more in person.
Most likely the US govt publicized the balloon in order to give Tony an excuse to cancel the trip. It seemed like there were too many people giving out prepared statements in reaction to the closure of airspace in Billings.
Probably the talks with Japan and The Netherlands regarding further embargoes on semiconductor manufacturing equipment exports to China did not result in definitive agreements. There was no official communique out of their meetings, and no official statements from Japan and The Netherlands.
Thus, Blinken was not in a strong position to go beat up on Xi.
Blinken needs to sail off in a wooden shoe with Winken and Nod and never return.
Probably expecting the suitcase full of cash to drop soon.
Liberals claim the Chinese spy balloon was just a bunch of hot air.