On Wednesday, Republican Representative Elise Stefanik of New York called on the U.S. intelligence community to provide a briefing on a reported Chinese spy balloon that was spotted near a military base in the United States.
According to Stefanik, the balloon was spotted near Fort Drum, a U.S. Army base located in her district. She said that the balloon was likely part of a Chinese intelligence-gathering operation and that the U.S. government should take the report seriously.
“As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am deeply concerned by reports of a Chinese spy balloon near Fort Drum,” Stefanik said in a statement. “I am requesting an immediate briefing from the relevant intelligence agencies to better understand the nature of this incident and the potential threat it poses to our national security.”
The balloon, which was spotted by a local resident, was reportedly equipped with cameras and other surveillance equipment. It is believed that the balloon was part of a larger Chinese effort to gather intelligence on U.S. military activities.
The incident comes at a time when tensions between the U.S. and China are high, with the two countries currently engaged in a trade war and a diplomatic dispute over the South China Sea.
Stefanik’s call for a briefing is the latest sign that U.S. lawmakers are taking the reports of Chinese espionage seriously. Earlier this year, the U.S. government issued a warning to American companies about the potential for Chinese espionage.
It remains to be seen if the intelligence community will respond to Stefanik’s request for a briefing. In the meantime, her call for action is a reminder that the U.S. must remain vigilant in the face of potential threats from foreign adversaries.
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