House passes resolution condemning China’s use of spy balloon

By Clare Foran, CNN

The House of Representatives voted to pass a resolution condemning China’s use of the suspected surveillance balloon that was shot down by US jets over the weekend.

The resolution is a symbolic rebuke of the Chinese government and is not binding legislatively.

The resolution condemns “the Chinese Communist Party’s use of a high-altitude surveillance balloon over United States territory as a brazen violation of United States sovereignty.”

It also calls on the Biden administration “to continue to keep Congress apprised by providing comprehensive briefings” on the incident.

The measure was introduced by Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs committee.

“Last week, the nation watched in shock as a Chinese surveillance balloon traversed much of the United States, including sensitive American military sites,” McCaul said in a statement. The chairman said that the resolution sends a message “that this kind of aggression will not be tolerated.”

The vote took place under suspension of the rules, which requires two-thirds of the chamber to vote in favor for passage — a procedure used for measures expected to win widespread bipartisan support.

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