The balloon was sighted over Montana.
(Photo: AP)
Washington The US is monitoring a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been registered over US airspace for several days. The Department of Defense decided not to shoot down the object so as not to endanger people on the ground, US officials said on Thursday. The incident further strained the already strained relations between the People’s Republic and the United States.
A senior Pentagon official, who wished to remain anonymous, told reporters the US was largely certain that a Chinese surveillance target was involved, flying at high altitude over sensitive sites to gather information. Among other things, the flying object was observed over the US state of Montana, where nuclear missiles, among other things, are stored at the Malmstrom Air Force Base.
Pentagon press secretary Patrick Ryder made a brief statement. Accordingly, the US government continued to track the movements of the alleged spy balloon.
This is currently at a height far above that used by commercial air traffic. He poses no military or physical threat to people on the ground.
Ryder said similar activity had been observed in previous years. The US has taken steps to ensure the suspected spy target does not gain access to sensitive information, he added. The Ministry of Defense has made the seriousness of the matter clear to Chinese officials through various channels.
Foreign Minister Antony Blinken travels to Beijing
The incident coincides with Foreign Minister Antony Blinken’s first trip to Beijing, which is expected this weekend.
Although the trip has not yet been publicly announced, both Beijing and Washington have spoken about Blinken’s upcoming arrival in China. It was initially unclear whether the discovery of the alleged spy balloon would have an impact on the travel plans.
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The senior Pentagon official, who wished to remain anonymous, said the US had fighter jets, including F-22s, on standby to shoot down the craft if the White House ordered it to do so. The Pentagon has spoken out against it because the resulting debris field could pose a risk to people.
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