President Joe Biden was first briefed on Tuesday. Suspected Chinese patrol balloon which is moving over the United States As it moves east over the next few days, White House spokeswoman Carine Jean-Pierre said.
Since then, the president “continues to receive briefings and updates from the national security team,” she said.
Jean-Pierre explains how the decision-making process works. It said that after the briefing, Biden asked “the military to present options.” It was a clear recommendation from Secretary Austin, President Milley, Commander of the North not to carry out the move because risks to the safety and security of people on the ground.”
“President Biden takes the advice of the military very seriously—clearly from his advisors. The president will always put the safety and security of the American people first,” added Jean-Pierre.
Briefing to Congress: Congress has been briefed on China’s “surveillance balloon activities” in the past, officials said. including a briefing for “Main Committee” held in August last year. White House officials told CNN.
Officials of senior Republican and Democratic members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees were briefed Thursday afternoon. And the official added that Defense and State Department officials briefed leaders and national security officials on Friday. management “give more details in writing”
There will also be an attempt to brief lawmakers behind closed doors next week when Congress returns. “We are conducting additional briefings for Congress next week,” the official said.
Jean-Pierre also said on Friday that Biden “agreed” with Secretary of State Tony Blinken’s decision “that it is inappropriate to travel to the People’s Republic of China at this time,” acknowledging that while China leaves “A statement of condolences… The presence of this balloon in our airspace is a clear violation of our sovereignty. including international law And it is unacceptable.”
Officials decided to postpone Blinken’s. visit china After a high-level conversation between Blinken, President Joe Biden and other top national security officials According to people familiar with the matter
