The Pentagon has reported spotting a “sizeable” balloon, which it believes to be a Chinese spy balloon, over US airspace for the past few days.
US Reaction
In a release on Thursday, the US Department of Defense described it as “an intelligence-gathering balloon” that was “most certainly launched” by China.
A senior defence official, unnamed by the Department, stated that the American intelligence community has “very high confidence” that the balloon belonged to China.
It was just confirmed that the Chinese government currently has a spy balloon flying over the US which shut down the air space over Billings yesterday. This is footage from our reporter Travia outside the @KULR NBC studios of the ballon. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/uhjVeLk69C
— Bradley Warren (@bradmwarren) February 2, 2023
He added that the US has engaged with Chinese officials “with urgency, through multiple channels” regarding the presence of the balloon.
“We have communicated to them the seriousness with which we take this issue. We have made clear we will do whatever is necessary to protect our people and our homeland,” the official said.
Measures Taken
During an impromptu Thursday night briefing, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder informed that soon after its detection, the government had “acted immediately” to protect against the collection of sensitive information and was “closely” tracking and monitoring the “high-altitude surveillance balloon.”
He did not detail the measures the government had undertaken.
Chinese spy balloon over Montana, the United States.
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) February 2, 2023
(Source: KSVI-TV) pic.twitter.com/bCI9ODxYDB
Ryder added that the balloon was moving “well above commercial air traffic” and did not “pose a threat to civil aviation.”
Not the First Time
The senior defence official further said that such a balloon had been spotted “a handful of other times over the past few years,” and this was not the first such sighting over the continental US.
However, he noted that the balloon “is appearing to hang out for a longer period of time” and is “more persistent than in previous instances.”
Public Threat
The official also said that the Pentagon would allow the balloon to continue floating in its airspace for now, rather than attempting to shoot it down, due to the possible risk it might pose to civilians.
HAPPENING NOW: Photo shows the massive Chinese spy balloon over Montana.
— Antonio Sabato Jr (@AntonioSabatoJr) February 3, 2023
U.S. military is tracking the balloon. pic.twitter.com/RS52mQE9Og
Arguing that the threat posed by the balloon currently did not justify such an action, the official stressed that the Pentagon had assessed that the spy device “has limited additive value from an intelligence collective collection perspective.”
“But we are taking steps, nevertheless, to protect against foreign intelligence collection of sensitive information,” they concluded.
Nuclear Surveillance
Former lieutenant colonel Danny Davis told Fox News that the balloon’s flight path over the US’ “nuclear strategic silos” was not “any mistake and any accident.”
Everyone wants a glimpse of the Chinese spy balloon, it’s gonna be THE raging internet trend for the next few days assuming the air force doesn’t shoot it down. If you’re not on your lawn getting noisy shots of every speck in the sky, you’re missing out. pic.twitter.com/SA630Tfgy6
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) February 2, 2023