Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida discusses the recent incident involving a Chinese spy balloon flying over the United States. He questions why the U.S. didn't take earlier action to prevent it and criticizes the delay in disclosing the information to the public. Rubio emphasizes that this incident signals China's message of challenging U.S. power and that the U.S. needs to reevaluate its approach towards China as a strategic adversary. He dismisses concerns about China shooting down U.S. civilian apparatuses, as he believes China would do the same in similar circumstances.
Sure, here are the key facts from the text:
1. Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida is the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
2. Rubio believes that President Biden should have shot down the balloon.
3. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that shooting down the balloon was justified due to the risk it posed.
4. The debris field after the balloon was shot down was approximately seven miles long.
5. Rubio questions why action wasn't taken earlier, knowing the balloon's trajectory.
6. Rubio wonders why it took so long for the information to be disclosed to the public.
7. The spy balloon's flight path was unprecedented, spanning from Montana to the Eastern Seaboard.
8. The balloon was likely collecting electronic information during its journey.
9. Rubio emphasizes that the incident carries a political message from China.
10. Rubio believes President Biden should have addressed the situation on television.
11. Rubio criticizes the delay in disclosure and questions future responses to similar situations.
12. Rubio argues that China is a primary strategic adversary of the United States.
13. The Chinese government has threatened to use any means to deal with similar situations in the future.