China's Spy Balloon Was A Metaphoric and Symbolic Show of Chinese Strength

China sending a spy balloon into American airspace has more to do with exerting power than collecting intelligence.

Using balloons in military operations isn't new. France was the first country to do so in 1794 when they used balloons on reconnaissance missions. Balloons were deployed to drop bombs during the Italian War for Independence (1848-1849). Again during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and later by the Japanese in 1944 during World War II.

Japan's coronation of the balloon bomb started in 1933. After multiple trial and error attempts and expert knowledge of unknown air streams (later known as jet streams), the Japanese finally developed balloons that could travel from mainland Japan to America in 1944.

The Japanese anticipated the American media would dedicate news coverage to the balloon bombings, thus causing widespread fear from the public and forcing emotionally irrational decisions from the politicians. The United States government understood Japan's attempts at psychological warfare and, through a government subsidiary called the Office of Censorship, ordered radio and newspaper outlets to refrain from reporting on the balloon bombings. The American media honored the decision until the ban was lifted in May 1945 after a woman and five children were killed by a bomb in eastern Oregon.

The Office of Censorship gave the media glowing remarks:

"Cooperation from the press and radio under this request has been excellent, despite the fact that Japanese free balloons are reaching the United States, Canada and Mexico in increasing numbers. In fact, the performance to date constitutes one of the outstanding achievements of voluntary censorship. . . There is no question that your refusal to publish or broadcast information about these balloons has baffled the Japs, annoyed and hindered them, and has been an important contribution to security."

Japan had no idea if their attacks were working. Without any indication their bombings were effective, Japan discontinued its balloon bombing program in April 1945.

I rehash that bit of history to illustrate three points.

First, censorship is not all bad. Had the United States government not implemented a ban on reporting of Japan's balloon warfare, the country would have been in an emotional frenzy. Who knows what kind of wrong-headed decisions would have been made that cost more American lives.

Censorship has gotten a bad rap these days for good reason. When applied adequately and appropriately, however, restricting the flow of information from the masses has saved lives and prevented catastrophes. Similar to how the Japanese had no idea if their balloon bombings were effective without foreign media reports, terrorism works the same way. News coverage is the oxygen that keeps terrorism alive. Without it, terrorist attacks might not be as prevalent worldwide as they are today. September 11 withstanding, a government getting to the bottom of or, even better, preventing a terror attack with as little media coverage as possible is the preferred course of action.

Secondly, the media operates without consideration for the welfare of the American people. The directive issued by the Office of Censorship to not report on the bombings was obeyed by outlets such as The New York Post, The Boston Post, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, recognizing the importance of maintaining national security and preserving geopolitical strategy.

Today, the American media would rather engage in partisan beefs than protect national security. David Urban, an ex-Trump advisor and current CNN contributor, said the spy balloon was a "giant middle finger floating across America, courtesy of the Chinese government." Joe Scarborough used the opportunity to trash Republicans, suggesting Senator Marco Rubio should "move to Russia" if they have such an issue with American foreign policy. CNN allowing Scarborough to make such bombastic statements on air was a middle finger to its viewers.

Third, the balloon symbolizes America's frailty. Balloons can often appear majestic and larger-than-life. Think about floats at a parade. They can take the appearance of anything your imagination desires while floating majestically in the air for all to see. That said, a sharp object, rough weather, or overinflation can deflate a balloon. Thanks in large part to the China Virus and decades of poor fiscal responsibility, America's economy is overinflated and on the verge of bursting. United States' debt is so outrageous a newborn baby has $94,310 of debt attached to them.

Symbolism can explain the name of the China-based social media app that has swept the world, TikTok.

Over the course of several decades, China has aspired to attain preeminence as the foremost global superpower. This objective has been chronicled by both writers and the Chinese government itself. The communist regime harbors a fervent aspiration for world domination, akin to the fervor displayed by Ben Crump when a white police officer harms a black person. China aims to attain this objective by the year 2049, which rapidly looms on the horizon.

Tick. Tock.

Chinese investors purchased over $6 billion of US land in 2021. Much of it was farmland and other plots near nuclear plants, factories, and airports.

Tick. Tock.

China operates unsanctioned police stations in America and other countries around the world.

Tick. Tock.

Every year America continues to give in to the degenerate Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity values found on TikTok the quicker the march toward communist China rule.

Tick. Tock.

The spy balloon ordeal was a masterclass of cultural, metaphoric, symbolic, and psychological dominance China has over America.