2023: Schweikert Voted To Condemn China For Using A High-Altitude Balloon To Surveil U.S. Territory And Request The Biden Administration TO Provide Briefings On Prior Instances Of China Violating U.S. Airspaces. In February 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for a resolution that would "state that the House of Representatives condemns China's use, in February 2023, of a high-altitude balloon to conduct surveillance over United States territory and its 'efforts to deceive the international community ... about its intelligence collection campaigns.' It would state that the Feb. 2 incident was a 'brazen violation of United States sovereignty' and that it should be U.S. policy to take prompt action to prevent foreign aerial surveillance platforms from violating U.S. sovereignty. It would further request that the Biden administration provide comprehensive briefings to Congress on the issue, including on prior instances of China violating U.S. airspace; the timeline of events from the first detection of the balloon to its shootdown; surveillance data the balloon may have collected or transmitted; options identified to respond the balloon and timing of recommendations made by the military regarding the options; diplomatic communications with China regarding the incident; and the administration's plans to combat future intelligence collection activities by China and other adversaries in the national airspace system." The vote was on passage. The House passed the resolution by a vote of 419 to 0. [House Vote 117, 2/9/23; Congressional Quarterly, 2/9/23; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 104]
The Resolution Condemned The Balloon As A Violation Of American Sovereignty. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Also on Thursday, the House registered its disapproval by agreeing unanimously to a resolution (H Res 104) condemning the balloon as a 'brazen violation of U.S. sovereignty.'" [Congressional Quarterly, 2/9/23]
The Chinese Spy Balloon Was Initially Spotted In Alaska On January 28, 2023 And Was Destroyed Off The Coast Of South Carolina On February 3, 2023. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The spy balloon, which was initially spotted as it approached Alaska on Jan. 28, crossed the contiguous U.S. before being destroyed off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 3. An operation to recover and analyze the balloon's debris is currently underway." [Congressional Quarterly, 2/9/23]
2023: Schweikert Voted To Condemn China's Use Of A High-Altitude Surveillance Balloon Over U.S. Territory. In April 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Upholding Sovereignty of Airspace Act, which would "express the sense of Congress condemning China's use of a high-altitude surveillance balloon over U.S. airspace as an 'unacceptable violation' of U.S. sovereignty and urge a number of diplomatic actions and sanctions intended to neutralize similar, future threats and combat Chinese misinformation and propaganda about its intelligence collection efforts. The bill would require the State Department, in consultation with the National Intelligence director and the U.S. representative to the United Nations, to develop and report to Congress on a diplomatic strategy to inform allies and partners of the scope of China's surveillance program and build global consensus to address the program --- including to advocate for Taiwan's participation in International Civil Aviation Organization events and meetings; promote international coordination to identify and track future Chinese surveillance balloons, continue to share information regarding Chinese surveillance, and implement related sanctions; and advocate at the U.N. and other international organizations to increase diplomatic pressure on China to halt its surveillance collection operations that violate international sovereignty. The bill also would require the Commerce Department to evaluate U.S. export and transfer policies for aerospace items and technologies that are used by China for intelligence and reconnaissance, and to report to Congress, within 180 days, on the evaluations and a list of related controls it has implemented or plans to implement. It would authorize the president to impose property-blocking and visa sanctions against any Chinese individual that the president determines is 'directly managing and overseeing' the Chinese global surveillance balloon program." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 405 to 6, thus the bill was sent to the Senate for their consideration. [House Vote 183, 4/17/23; Congressional Quarterly, 4/17/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1151]
The Bill Sought To Hold The Chinese Government Accountable For Violating U.S. Airspace And Sovereignty. According to The Hill, "Monday's bill proposed holding the PRC 'accountable for the violation of United States airspace and sovereignty with its high-altitude surveillance balloon.'" [The Hill, 4/17/23]
The Bill Would Allow President Biden To Impose Sanctions On Any Chinese-Government Individual Who Managed And Oversaw The Global Surveillance Balloon Program. According to The Hill, "One way to achieve that, according to the legislation, is through imposing sanctions. The legislation, if enacted, would allow President Biden to impose sanctions on 'any PRC individual the President determines is directly managing and overseeing the PRC's global surveillance balloon program.' The president could impose the sanctions as soon as 180 days after the legislation is enacted." [The Hill, 4/17/23]
The Bill Would Direct The Commerce Secretary To Review The Export And Transfer Of Items And Technology Pertained To Aerospace Programs That Were Used By The Chinese Government. According to The Hill, "The legislation also calls on the Commerce Secretary to evaluate the export, reexport and in-country transfer of items and technology that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction that pertains to aerospace programs --- including airships, balloons and related materials --- that are used by the People's Liberation Army for intelligence and reconnaissance. The secretary would be directed to submit a report to congressional committees on the findings." [The Hill, 4/17/23]
The Bill Would Call On The Secretary Of State To Develop A Strategy To Inform Allies And Partners Of The Surveillance Program And Build Consensus On How To Address The Program. According to The Hill, "Thirdly, the bill calls on the Secretary of State --- in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence and U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations --- to 'develop a diplomatic strategy to inform allies and partners of the scope of the PRC surveillance program and build global consensus in order to address the PRC's global surveillance balloon program.'" [The Hill, 4/17/23]