Plain English with Derek Thompson China’s Spy Balloon Is Down. Cold War 2.0 Risks Are Rising.
Feb 7, 2023
Juliette Kayyem, a former government official and Harvard lecturer, joins James Palmer, deputy editor at Foreign Policy, to discuss the unusual saga of a Chinese spy balloon crossing U.S. airspace. They unpack the balloon's implications for U.S.-China relations, reflecting on the tensions reminiscent of the Cold War. Interesting debates flare up over whether China's actions stem from blunder or calculated strategy. The conversation also highlights the struggle for diplomacy amid economic pressures, raising questions about an evolving global landscape.
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The U-2 Incident
- The 1960 U-2 incident involved a US spy plane shot down by the Soviets.
- The US lied, claiming it was a weather plane, but the captured pilot exposed the truth.
Project Moby Dick
- The US used balloons for spying during the Cold War before satellites were developed.
- Project Moby Dick involved hundreds of balloons floated over the Soviet Union with pre-prepared excuses.
Balloons vs. Satellites
- Balloons offer a cheaper and easier-to-maintain surveillance option than satellites.
- They can loiter over a specific area, unlike satellites that constantly orbit.