一个熟悉相关事件的来源告诉CNN，在今年较早时间美国所击落的间谍气球能够捕捉图像及采集美军基地的一些信号。消息来源亦表示该气球有能力以实时方式发送信息回到北京。
即使该气球并不如中国卫星一样高端，FBI 仍然对该怀疑间谍气球作出详细检测。一些FBI的官员正取得气球如何运作的一些详细信息、例如演算法、软体、设计及电力。
NBC 是首个报告这情资的单位。
二月的怀疑中国间谍气球能发送实时信息往北京
Tag: diplomatic
Beijing warned Tsai Ing-wen’s US transit could lead to serious confrontation
The US visit of the Taiwan’s leader, Tsai Ing-wen came at a time of exacerbated relationship before the US and China. Chinese officials make condemnation and warned that Tsai’s US transit could lead to a “serious” confrontation in the US- China relationship and have a “severe impact” on their ties.
The US is bound by law to sell arms to Taiwan for its self-defense, though it ended its formal diplomatic relationship with Taipei in 1979 when it recognized the government in Beijing. Tsai’s visit or transit is not characterized as an official visit in order to keep the US government within the longstanding “One China” policy because of the unofficial relationship the US has with Taiwan.
US officials sought to downplay Tsai’s stopover and urged Chinese government not to use them as an excuse or pretext to carry out any aggressive activity around the Taiwan Strait.
Frictions between China and the US have heightened in recent years. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has ramped up military, diplomatic and economic pressure on the island while Chinese government vowed to take Taiwan by force if necessary.
Image source: https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230329180630-01-tsai-ing-wen-ny-0329.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_720,w_1280,c_fill/f_webp
UK government warns China is recruiting UK pilots to train its military
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The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) warns that it believes former British pilots or even serving British pilots are being lured to China with large compensative packages to train People’s Liberation Army personnel in the People’s Republic of China.
To stop Chinese recruitment schemes to headhunt serving and former UK Armed Forces pilots, MoD are taking decisive steps. The MoD said that there was no evidence to suggest that any former UK pilots have passed on any information which would violate the Official Secret Act.
In the meantime, Britain’s Minister of State said the UK government will looking to change the law to punish military pilots who pass on their expertise to the Chinese army. He also mentioned that there is no secret in their attempt to gain access to our secrets, and Chinese recruitment of UK pilots in order to understand the capabilities of IL air force is clearly a concern to UK government He expressed that China is a competitor that is threatening the UK interest in many places around the world.
Nancy Pelosi expected to visit Taiwan tonight
The US congressional delegation’s itinerary includes stops in South Korea and Japan, but no official mention has been made of a visit to Taiwan. However, the Taiwanese official said that Nancy Pelosi is expected to stay in Taiwan overnight. It is unclear when exactly Pelosi will land in Taipei.
China warned against the “egregious political impact” of Pelosi’s planned visit to the self-governing island that China claims as a part of its territory and reiterated that its military “won’t sit by idly” if Beijing feels its “sovereignty and territorial integrity” is being threatened.
Image resource:https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/220731032604-02-china-pelosi-asia-trip-file-restricted-exlarge-169.jpg
China could have an unprecedented response to Pelosi’s potential Taiwan visit
Last week, US House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi would like to have a Taiwan visit to show support for Taiwan. China immediately gives a warning against a potential high-stakes trip and vowed to take “resolute and forceful measures” of the trip goes ahead.
However, Chinese government has not specified in public what “forceful measures” it is planning to take. Some Chinese experts say Beijing’s reaction could involve a military component and the situation between China and the US will be very tense.
Pelosi’s potential trip wouldn’t be the first time a sitting US House speaker has visited Taiwan. In 1997, Newt Gingrich met Taiwan first democratically elected President Lee Teng-hui. At that time, China’s response was limited to rhetoric. Twenty-five years on, it is a completely different regime in Beijing with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. China is stronger, more powerful, and confident, and its leader XI, Jinping has made it clear that Beijing will no longer tolerate any perceived slights or challenge to its interests. China is in a position to be more assertive, to impose costs and consequences to countries that don’t take China’s interest into consideration in their policy or actions.
Last Wednesday, US president Joe Biden told reporters the US military thinks a Taiwan visit by Pelosi is “not a good idea right now.”
On this Monday, Gingrich wrote on the social media about his comment on the potential visit and raise out the concern about political timidity.
The potential Taiwan visit by Pelosi would come at a sensitive time for China. The PLA is celebrating its founding anniversary on August 1, while Xi, the country’s most powerful leader in decades, is preparing to seek a third term at the ruling Communist Party this fall.
But with Pelosi’s potential visit is now playing out in public, any decision to delay or cancel, risks being seen as a concession.
Image sources:https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/220720000950-01-china-warns-pelosi-taiwan-visit-exlarge-169.jpg
