The Pentagon decided not to shoot it down due to risks of harm for people on the ground.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over U.S. airspace for a couple days, but the Pentagon decided not to shoot it down due to risks of harm for people on the ground, officials said Thursday. The discovery of the balloon puts a further strain on U.S.-China relations at a time of heightened tensions.
A senior defense official told Pentagon reporters that the U.S. has “very high confidence” it is a Chinese high-altitude balloon and it was flying over sensitive sites to collect information. One of the places the balloon was spotted was Montana, which is home to one of the nation’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.
Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, provided a brief statement on the issue, saying the government continues to track the balloon. He said it 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.”Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio He said similar balloon activity has been seen in the past several years. He added that the U.S.
The defense official said the U.S. has “engaged” Chinese officials through multiple channels and communicated the seriousness of the matter. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community.
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Pentagon: Chinese spy balloon spotted over Western USWASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over U.S. airspace for a couple days, but the Pentagon decided not to shoot it down due to risks of harm for people on the ground, officials said Thursday.
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Pentagon: Chinese spy balloon spotted over Western USThe U.S. says it is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over U.S. airspace for a couple days.
Read more »
Pentagon: Chinese spy balloon spotted over Western USThe U.S. says it is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over U.S. airspace for a couple days
Read more »
Pentagon: Chinese spy balloon spotted over Western USThe U.S. is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over U.S. airspace for a couple days, but the Pentagon decided not to shoot it down due to risks of harm for people on the ground, officials said.
Read more »
Pentagon: Chinese spy balloon spotted over Western USOne of the places the balloon was spotted was Montana, which is home to one of the nation's three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana.
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