Chinese Spy Balloon Incident Backfired, Expert Says

Miles Yu, former senior China policy adviser to former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Annapolis, Md., in Feb. of 2021. (Tal Atzmon/The Epoch Times)

Last week’s spy balloon incident was an embarrassment to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which should have simply apologized. However, in line with its deceptive nature, the communist regime continues to behave like an ostrich, says Miles Yu, former senior Chinese policy adviser to the U.S. State Department.

“The CCP has lost credibility with its mendacity,” which makes it impossible for it to be a world leader, Yu said.

Yu is a professor of East Asia and military and naval history at the U.S. Naval Academy. He is also a senior fellow and director of the China Center at the Hudson Institute. He served as the China policy adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during the Trump administration. Yu spoke with the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times on Feb. 5.

A Regime of Mendacity

China’s story about the balloon was not coherent, Yu said: “The regime is caught in the act, but it can’t even rationalize its own lie. Under state control such as in China, an issue involving the airspace of the nation cannot be run by the private sector.”

In a press conference on Feb. 7, Beijing continued to insist that the unmanned balloon flew into American airspace in an “unintended entry.” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the balloon was of a “civilian nature,” and protested the downing of the balloon by the United States.

Yu said the CCP could not provide any details about the civilian entity responsible for the balloon, such as its name, headquarters; or the balloon’s purpose, operators, and mission.

He noted that China at first said the United States had fabricated the “so-called Chinese spy balloon” incident. After evidence was presented, the CCP modified its story, explaining it as an uncontrolled civilian balloon.

“If it’s uncontrollable, it should have notified the U.S. after it’s been out of control for so long. Obviously, the CCP lied, and Washington would never buy it  … No one with a clear mind would buy it,” Yu said.

Yu said the CCP should have apologized for the balloon’s intrusion and explained clearly. If it had admitted the mistake initially, the incident would have been over. However, the CCP did not have the courage to admit its mistake; resorting to lies and protests. “It’s a regime of mendacity and no credibility,” he said.

“I think it’s very hard for a government of no credibility to be the world leader,” Yu said.

The Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, S.C. (L) on Feb. 4, 2023. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flies over a debris field during recovery efforts (R) on Feb. 4, 2023. (Randall Hill/Reuters); U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Jerry Ireland)

Chinese Strategy Backfired

Yu discussed the connection between the spy balloon incident and the now-canceled visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China. The visit had been scheduled for Feb. 5–6.

After U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed the visit to China due to the spy balloon incident, China had a shocking claim: “neither side has ever announced that there would be a visit. ”

On the contrary, the White House announced Blinken’s visit to China after U.S. President Joe Biden and CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping agreed in Bali last November that both countries should find ways to open up dialogue.

At a press conference on Jan. 17, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told the media, “We welcome Secretary Blinken’s visit to China.”

Yu said that the visit’s postponement was a clarification and adjustment of the rules for U.S.–China relations in accordance with the interests of the United States.

U.S. diplomacy has been generous in maintaining dialogue with the CCP, Yu said. China has exploited the relationship, opening and closing channels of dialogue at will.

Dialogue with the United States is a win-win for China, legitimizing the regime in the eyes of the Chinese people and sending a message about the relationship between the two countries.

However, the Chinese strategy of “using confrontation to extract cooperation”—and of using incidents such as last week’s to distract from the issues at hand—did not work in this instance.

Instead, the United States showed its willingness to walk away from the negotiating table.

An Ostrich State

“These are rules that countries and the U.S. follow in international relations. China should not expect any special treatment,” Yu said.

The White House needs to stand firm on Chinese human rights abuse, and similarly, Chinese espionage activities in business, politics, and the military, Yu said.

“Cooperation in economy and trade is granted. But the CCP can not expect the United States to keep silent about its criminal acts toward regional countries and people,” Yu said.

“It’s unrealistic for the CCP to blame the U.S. as showing no respect. It’s an ostrich behavior when it’s faced with criticism.”

“CCP should really learn from [this] lesson.” Its arrogance in this situation is not going to help its reputation, Yu said.

Cheng Jing and Luo Ya contributed to this report.