China sentences official to death for taking $325M in bribes

Re:China sentences official to death for taking $325M in bribes by blaufuchs on Tuesday July 07, 2026 @04:53PM (#48823602)

Yeah it’s pretty funny how worked up the CCP get when they’re called out. “How dare you accuse us of launching a spy balloon?”. Whereas Russia hits you with the “oh those aren’t FSB agents, just lovers on vacation ;)”

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:China sentences official to death for taking $325M in bribes by ClumsyPilot on Tuesday July 07, 2026 @05:28PM (#48824095)

Well I given that it wasn’t a spy balloon in the end, perhaps they had a point

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:China sentences official to death for taking $325M in bribes by nixon_why69 on Tuesday July 07, 2026 @07:54PM (#48825637)

I mean, the entire concept of "spy balloon over the continental US in the 21st century" could be considered a litmus test for critical thinking.

A country with satellites is running a Wile E. Coyote tier balloon plot?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:China sentences official to death for taking $325M in bribes by throw10920 on Wednesday July 08, 2026 @12:14PM (#48833800)

Yes, and if you think it's not feasible, you failed the critical thinking test. Balloons have the ability to observe signals that satellites do not. It's that simple.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:China sentences official to death for taking $325M in bribes by nixon_why69 on Wednesday July 08, 2026 @12:31PM (#48834034)

While being incredibly obvious and easy (and justified) to shoot down, as we saw.

But enlighten me. What critical signals intelligence was that balloon getting?

[ Parent | on HN ]