Secretary Of State Blinken Will Postpone China Trip Over Suspected Spy Balloon Incident

Ben ZeisloftFebruary 3, 2023

Secretary of State Antony Blinken You postpone a trip that is scheduled China After a suspected “surveillance balloon” It was seen flying over the west United States.

Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder Announcement Thursday will see the Military Observed “a high altitude surveillance balloon” This week, Blinken traveled above the nation. Officially, Blinken delayed his previously scheduled departure hours earlier than he had been scheduled to. Telled ABC News. Both countries have not yet released any details about the agenda of the diplomatic mission.

Ryder stated that the United States will continue to “track and monitor” Pay attention to the balloon “acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information” Once the object was found, The balloon was found above Billings in Montana after having traveled over the Aleutian Islands and across Canada. According to a report, a top defense official claimed that the device was still visible over the country on Thursday afternoon but didn’t disclose its location. Report From NBC.

“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,” Ryder went on. “Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years.”

Montana is home to several missile silos and military bases. Federal officials have previously Investigated Chinese technology company Huawei over concerns that cell towers in the area using the firm’s devices are transmitting data to the communist nation.

After the balloon was found, General Mark Milley, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff and Vice-chair Joint Chief General Christopher Grady recommended no “kinetic action” Be aware of falling debris and take precautions. During background checks, a senior defense official confirmed that the incident was being handled. Press briefing As the Billings Logan International Airport issued an emergency ground stop, the United States preemptively scrambled F-22 fighter aircrafts.

“The context for that was it would put some things on station in the event that a decision was made to bring this down while it was over Montana,” According to the official. “So we wanted to make sure we were coordinating with civil authorities to empty out the air space 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.”

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Statement It was just a civilian research vessel that had lost its course. “The airship is from China. It is a civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes,” Officials made the comment. “Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course.”

Sen. Steve Daines (R -MT) stated in a Let me know Lloyd Austin, Defense Secretary, said that the incident created a new threat to national security. “significant concern” that Malmstrom Air Force Base and the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile fields were targeted for an “intelligence gathering mission.” He demanded a security briefing to discuss this incident.

“I am alarmed by the fact that this spy balloon was able to infiltrate the airspace of our country and Montana,” He wrote. “There is no higher priority for your administration than the safety and security of the American people and it is imperative that your administration reassure them of that fact at this time.”