Thread by @jseldin

#China's spy balloon - "This was a surveillance balloon period...it is equipment that is inconsistent w/weather balloons" per @ASD_IndoPacific Ely Ratner, speaking at @HudsonInstitute

We "have not heard a plausible explanation for this activity" from the PRC, he adds

US deterrence vs #NorthKorea "is to deter agression & deter conflict" per @ASD_IndoPacific

"It's not to deter Kim Jong Un from killing a bunch of fish with his missiles"

"We're focused on readiness. We're focused on deterrence. We're focused on ensuring that Kim Jong Un doesn't take risks that go way beyond his capacity" per @ASD_IndoPacific

re #DPRK

#China's aggressive behavior - "I don't think they're picking a fight" per @ASD_IndoPacific "They may be trying to coerce & bully but I don't think they're picking a fight. I think they're smart enough not to do that"

US-#China mil-to-mil communication

"We are not where we think we need to be" per @ASD_IndoPacific "Despite ongoing tensions, it's incredibly important for the US & the #PRC military to have open lines of communication..."

"The problem is that the #PRC & the #PLA continue to use mil-mil relations & those channels of communication as a mens of signaling displeasure over issues related to security & not" per @ASD_IndoPacific

"They [#China] will turn off for extended periods of time & be unwilling to engage at times when we think it is important for us to be talking' per @ASD_IndoPacific, citing day US shot down the Chinese spy balloon

https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1624031857229586432?s=20

#China fully engaged in "nothing to see here" tactics

"There is a pattern that I think a lot of #IndoPacific partners are very familiar with" per @DeptofDefense Deputy Asst Sec Lindsey Ford

"You see the PRC do something which very clearly sovereignty...then there's a bit of an effort w/talking points &whatever to say this is fake news, nothing to see here" per @DeptofDefense's Ford

"It's incredibly important [to] publicly shine a light on what's actually going on"