Pentagon alerted over the suspected high-altitude Chinese spy balloon flying over the US. The defense officials tracking the spy balloon that has been watched a couple of days since it entered the US airspace.
The US officials tracked the spy balloon by using various methods including crewed aircraft US fighter jets flying near the Chinese spy balloon.
The balloon has most recently been tracked and crossed over Montana, a place where the US has silo-based nuclear missiles.
Canada’s national defense department later said that it too had detected the high-altitude surveillance balloon.
The balloon had traveled over part of Canada on its way to Montana.
Pentagon Taking Precautionary Steps Against the Chinese Spy Balloon
Pentagon said in a statement – “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 US government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information.”
NEWS: U.S. Tracking High-Altitude Surveillance Balloon https://t.co/91vmqncyGX
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) February 3, 2023
Pentagon is confident that the balloon is from China.
A Chinese spy balloon is flying over the sky of Montana, which is home to the nation’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom air force base.
All flights were canceled at Montana’s Billings Logan International airport from 1:30 to 3:30 pm on Wednesday.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte also released the statement
Statement on the suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew over Montana pic.twitter.com/649z2v1SFK
— Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) February 3, 2023
Although it could not be gathering any intelligence that could not be collected from satellites, so it does not provide any benefit to the Chinese.
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US President Briefed About the Chinese Spy Balloon
US President Joe Biden was briefed about the Chinese spy balloon and Biden asked for military advice.
Joint Chief of Staff General Mark Milley recommended not shooting down the balloon due to public safety reasons.
US Joint Chief of Staff: Mark Miley
The Incident Further Raises the Tension Between China and US
The recent indecent act of China just come before the visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China.
It is believed that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet the Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Mao Ning a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “Beijing was “verifying” the situation. I would like to emphasize that until the facts are clarified, speculation and hype will not be helpful to the proper resolution of the issue,”
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson: Mao Ning
She further added “China had no intention of violating the territory and airspace of any country, and that the government hoped to handle the matter with the US “calmly”
The US claims China is a potential threat. The rising tension between US and China is continuously increasing over various reasons like attacks on Taiwan and the South China Sea, Human rights issues in China’s western Xinjiang region, and suppression of democratic activists in Hong Kong.
Others support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and do not control North Korea expanding ballistic missile program.
US House speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted that China’s attempt of espionage is brazen.
China’s brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action that must be addressed, and President Biden cannot be silent.
I am requesting a Gang of Eight briefing. https://t.co/KarTCUzbOS
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) February 3, 2023
The recent espionage activity of China over the US by using spy balloon is a sign that China using its tactics to harm the US.