U.S. Government Monitoring Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon Hovering Over Northern States
The U.S. government Monitoring a suspected Chinese surveillance ballon that has been flying over northern US states for several days.
Brig. General Pat Ryder stated that the U.S. government had detected a high-altitude surveillance satellite balloon above the continental U.S. during a briefing Thursday afternoon.
“The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now. The U.S. government to include Norad, continues to track and monitor it closely. The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground. Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years. Once the balloon was detected, the U.S. government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information,” Ryder.
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ADDS PENTAGON REPONSE THAT IT WOULD CONFIRM – On Wednesday, February 1, 2023, a high altitude balloon floated over Billings, Mont. U.S. officials have confirmed that a Chinese surveillance balloon has been observed over U.S. Airspace for several days. However, the Pentagon did not decide to shoot it down because of the risk of injury to people on the ground. The Pentagon did not confirm that the surveillance balloon was in the photo.
(Larry Mayer/The Billings Gazette via AP).
Before the two annual sessions in Beijing, March 4, 2022, the Great Hall of the People hosts red flags.
(VCG / VCG via Getty Images
Senior defense officials stated that the U.S. government was “ineffective.” “confident” The surveillance balloon belongs the People’s Republic of China.
The defense official stated that the balloon had been seen over Montana recently and that officials considered taking it down with military assets. However, they decided not to do so due to the potential risks.
“You did see reports yesterday of a ground stop at Billings Airport and the mobilization of a number of assets, including F-22. The context for that was that we put some things on station in the event that a decision was made to bring this down while it was over Montana. So, we wanted to make sure we were coordinating with civil authorities to empty out the airspace around that potential area. But even with those protective measures taken, it was the judgment of our military commanders that we didn’t drive the risk down low enough. So, we didn’t take the shot,” The official stated.
Map depicts the approximate route of a Chinese surveillance satellite over Montana, Friday February 3, 2023.
(Fox News)
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, center, passes military guards on his arrival at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Metro Manila (Philippines), Thursday.
(Rolex Dela Pena / Pool Photo via AP)
Fox News was informed by a senior U.S. official that the government is still exploring a range of options regarding the Chinese spy balloon. He said that Biden and his national security staff were presented with options, including concerns about civilian casualties if the balloon was shot down.
According to the source, the White House is open to shooting down the balloon if necessary.
Sources say there is more to it than a balloon. Heavy equipment could come to rest if it was shot down, creating large debris fields.
Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense held a meeting Wednesday with senior Department of Defense leaders. The balloon was discussed and it was decided not take military action. “the risk to safety and security of people on the ground from the possible debris field,” The official stated. The official said at the time. Austin was visiting Camp Navarro, located approximately 2,000 miles from China in the Philippines is called Camp Navarro.
The discovery of the balloon comes at a time when the U.S., Philippines and Taiwan have agreed to increase their military presence in the islands. This is amid increasing tensions between China (and Taiwan).
On March 27, 2018, the flags of Taiwanese and American flags will be placed at Taipei, Taiwan.
(Reuters / Tyrone Siu).
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Senior defense official claimed that the government had been following the balloon’s movements for some time. “some time” It was reported that it had entered U.S. airspace. “couple of days ago.”
Officials maintain that the balloon isn’t a military threat to America, but they said it doesn’t likely gather any valuable information to the U.S. People’s Republic of China.
“They’re trying to fly this balloon over sensitive sites, one of which was just mentioned to collect information,” According to the official, it wasn’t the first time that a balloon has been inflated. “of this nature” a country that has outnumbered the U.S.
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