Balloon Was Part of China’s Planned Posturing Ahead of Blinken’s Beijing Visit

The Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, S.C., on Feb. 4, 2023. Randall Hill/Reuters

Commentary

The Chinese reconnaissance balloon, shot down by the U.S. Air Force last Saturday (Feb. 4), may have been just one of numerous planned incidents by Beijing aimed at increasing its bargaining power in the negotiations scheduled with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for this week.