CNN Newsroom: Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) Discusses Chinese Spy Balloon

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Well, to be frank, Bianna, this is a brazen provocation by the Communist Party. It's why we need to be standing up as Americans and waking up to the new Cold War we're facing with the Communist Party.

They've got 215 million of these weather balloons in the form of TikTok on Americans' phones. So they're continuing to gather this intelligence. It's high time we shut down the surveillance operation that the Chinese have on the ground and in the air.

Americans, certainly Iowans, are skeptical of the fact that this balloon was able to hover over Montana, hover over our Air Force bases in Missouri and not gather any information and beam it back to Communist China to be used against us.

I think those are the questions we want serious answers to. But we have to make sure that there is a plan from the Biden administration and our military to make sure this isn't allowed to happen again.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

I think it's highly concerning either way. We should not be allowing them to execute an agenda across our country. The mission was allowed to be completed going all the way to South Carolina.

You can't tell me with only a seven-mile radius there wasn't a place where they could have shot this down and continue to gather that intelligence of what made up this balloon be how it was being used.

It's very clear this is a very sophisticated spy operation that's been in the works for many, many years. We know this has been taking place over many administrations.

So, again, this was a test. President Biden failed that test by allowing it to work its way across our country. And Americans deserve answers as to why that decision was made.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Absolutely, it's alarming, Bianna. When you look at what's been able to be allowed by the Chinese Communist Party over the last decade, again, through several administrations. We've seen them ramp up their surveillance on us.

This is a very sophisticated espionage apparatus they have been able to execute for many, many years. Americans should absolutely be concerned about this threat.

It's, again, why we have propped up in a bipartisan way the Select Committee on Competition with the Chinese Communist Party.

And I want to be clear here, the Chinese Communist Party is a real threat to the Americans. We have no beef with the Chinese people. It's about the continued provocation by the military apparatus and the Chinese Communist Party.

That's what our committee is looking to challenge to make sure that the Chinese know we're taking these threats very seriously.

And again, that's why you're hearing calls for questions about when we knew about these devices coming across our country, why was it allowed to persist, as it has been, and how are we going to make sure we have a plan going forward so it can't continue.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Absolutely. We need to make sure our military has the resources and tools necessary to be able to detect. We're facing new threats every day, and we need to be nimble and be able to react to those threats.

This is very, very clear, about, again, making sure we have a path forward, get answers to the questions, but we cannot allow this to happen again.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source