Internal documents obtained by Fox News Digital show that the Biden-Harris administration delayed informing the American public about a Chinese surveillance balloon floating over U.S. territory, while engaging in private discussions with Chinese officials to address the matter discreetly.
The documents show that on February 1, 2023, with the balloon still traveling through American airspace, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his team were in communication with Chinese counterparts, expressing concern that public disclosure could damage U.S.-China relations.
At the time, the Biden-Harris administration had been aware of the balloon’s presence since January 28 but did not issue a public statement until February 2.
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According to an internal State Department readout, Blinken expressed to Chinese officials that if the balloon’s presence became publicly known, it could have “profound implications for our relationship” with Beijing.
The readout also indicated that the State Department was concerned that the incident could jeopardize Blinken’s planned diplomatic trip to China scheduled for early February 2023.
That trip was later postponed until June.
Two former Trump administration officials familiar with the communications told Fox News Digital that Blinken’s priority during the discussions was to manage the diplomatic fallout rather than publicly acknowledge the security breach.
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A former Biden-Harris administration official also confirmed that the State Department summoned senior Chinese diplomat Zhu Haiquan on February 1, 2023, to notify Beijing about the balloon and to warn that the U.S. might take action to remove it.
Despite that warning, the balloon was not shot down until February 4, after it had crossed a significant portion of the continental United States.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that President Biden was first briefed on the balloon on January 31.
However, she did not provide a clear explanation as to why there was no official statement until February 2. The Pentagon later said the delay was due to concerns about falling debris, but critics argue that diplomatic concerns took precedence.
In response to the revelations, a spokesperson for Blinken said he supported informing the public about the incident, though internal communications appear to reflect a strong preference for keeping the matter from public view initially.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), who was serving in the U.S. Senate at the time, criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the incident.
Speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Rubio said, “Why didn’t the president go on television? He has the ability to convene the country in cameras and basically explain what we’re dealing with here.”
He went on to describe the administration’s delayed response as “the beginning of dereliction of duty.”
Marco Rubio accuses Biden of ‘dereliction of duty’ for not giving a speech about the Chinese spy balloon.
If Biden committed an act of dereliction of duty, what was it when Trump didn’t inform the American people about at least 3 spy balloons over the US? pic.twitter.com/Aj1ft5iYMb
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 5, 2023
The incident sparked bipartisan concern over the administration’s response to foreign surveillance and how information about potential threats is shared with the public.
Civilian sightings of the balloon in Montana on February 1 played a significant role in forcing an official acknowledgment from the Pentagon.
After the balloon was downed off the coast of South Carolina on February 4, defense officials claimed the device had not transmitted data back to China.
However, the delay in addressing the issue publicly and the lack of transparency about the incident has led lawmakers and security experts to continue pressing for answers.
As of now, neither the State Department nor the White House has provided additional details on the full scope of the balloon’s surveillance capabilities or the decision-making process that led to the delay in disclosure.
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