What's New
China is mocking the United States as a "breeding ground for delusion, irrationality, and instability" following allegations that some of the recent mysterious drone sightings reported in the U.S. could be linked to the Chinese state.
The critical remarks in The Global Times, a newspaper run by China's ruling Communist Party, came in response to Tuesday's comments by Rep. Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who said: "I believe they're spy drones and the PRC [People's Republic of China] and Communist China is very good at this stuff.
"We know they bought land around military bases. This would be very consistent with their policy over the past couple years."
Newsweek contacted Rep. Michael McCaul for comment via email on Saturday outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
The U.S. has been hit by a series of "mystery drone sightings" around the nation, and in particular the northeast, along with American military bases in the U.K. and Germany over the past few months.
Earlier this week White House National Security Advisor John Kirby said the U.S. sightings were a combination of drones being used lawfully "as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and even stars" that had been incorrectly identified. President-elect Donald Trump suggested mystery drones over U.S. should be shot down.
Tensions are high between the U.S. and China, its main geopolitical rival, with ongoing disputes about trade, human rights and the sovereignty of both Taiwan and the South China Sea.
What To Know
The Global Times article highlighted McCaul's accusation, noting it contradicted the official line coming out of the White House. It concluded: "The rumors exaggerating the threat of Chinese 'spy drones' and so-called security threats will ultimately collapse under their own weight. The repeated 'spy' farces have only led one to wonder since when America has become so vulnerable in terms of security, making the U.S. increasingly a laughingstock on the world stage."
The publication linked the current focus on alleged spy drones to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, which seeks to restrict access to the U.S. telecommunications industry for Chinese spy drones. It added: "If the bill goes fully through and prohibits the use of Chinese drones, it would be catastrophic."
In February 2023 a high-altitude balloon was shot down by the U.S. Air Force off the coast of South Carolina after traveling across continental United States. President Biden said the balloon, which had originated from China, was fitted with "two box cars full of spy equipment in it," though this was denied by Beijing.
What People Are Saying
Speaking on Wednesday President Biden said the recent wave of reported drone sightings across the northeast is "nothing nefarious."
Speaking to The Hill after being briefed as a member of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat, said: "To date, they haven't found anything that would indicate that there's foreign influence, foreign actors, or even little green men who are working on the American people."
However appearing on Fox Business Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at conservative leaning think tank the Gatestone Institute, said: "These activities are too large and well-organized to be the work of hobbyists."
What Happens Next
Law enforcement and federal agencies, including the FBI, are expected to continue investigating mystery drone sightings including one near Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas on Tuesday.
Tensions with China could increase once Trump enters the White House, with the president elect last month saying "we will be charging China an additional 10 percent tariff, above any additional tariffs" unless the country cracks down on fentanyl smuggling. During the 2024 presidential election campaign Trump suggested he could slap a 60 percent tariff on Chinese goods.
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