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The first incident occurred Feb. 4 when a fighter jet shot down
a large balloon just off the U.S. coast after it floated across
the country.
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, told Fox News that he is
skeptical of China's explanation.
"Let's remember what their reaction was when we asked about the
balloon," said LaHood. "They said it was a meteorological or
weather balloon. No one believes that."
Three other floating objects have since been shot down, but it
is unclear where the objects originated.
According to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York,
and intelligence sources, China has been running a balloon
surveillance program over numerous different countries,
including the U.S.
LaHood is a member of the House Select Committee on Strategic
Competition. The 24-member panel is expected to push bipartisan
legislation focused on Beijing, including decreasing dependence
on the Chinese economy, and investigating ties between China and
Russia.
"We ought to be working on the economics and isolate China more,
I think that has to be a big part of that," said LaHood. "I
think the Biden administration has done nothing in this space."
The House made a bipartisan statement by creating the committee
between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party on an
overwhelming 365 to 65 vote at the start of this Congress.
The committee is led in part by ranking member Illinois U.S.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Schaumburg, and will likely hold
their first hearing in March.
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in
Illinois for the Center Square. He has over 30 years of
experience in radio news reporting throughout the Midwest.
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