The number of blatantly illegal and brazen acts of Communist China continues to rise under the weak leadership of the Biden administration.
The Pentagon has confirmed that they are tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over U.S. airspace for a couple days.
Federal authorities have decided not to shoot it down due to the risks of harm to people on the ground.
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
A senior defense official told Pentagon reporters that the U.S. has “very high confidence” it is a Chinese high-altitude balloon.
It was seen flying over sensitive sites to collect information.
⚡️Suspected Chinese spy balloon found over northern U.S
It’s confirmed that there is a Chinese spy ballon, however this very video is unverified. pic.twitter.com/vgxdqPPsVL
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) February 2, 2023
In Montana, the ballon was spotted floating near three of the U.S. nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to China, but this discovery may impact his plans.
“The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now,” Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said. “We continue to track and monitor it closely.”
“Once the balloon was detected, the U.S. government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information,” Ryder said.
“Currently we assess that this balloon has limited additive value from an intelligence collection perspective over and above what the PRC can do through other means,” the senior defense official said.
“Nevertheless we are taking all necessary steps to protect against foreign intelligence collection of sensitive information.”
“We are tracking it in minute detail in real time and we will constantly update our assessment,” the official said. “We are in constant surveillance of this thing through a bunch of different means.”
From NBC News:
This type of activity is not unprecedented, the senior defense official said, with China flying stratospheric balloons like this before, but the difference this time is the balloon is staying over the U.S. longer than usual.
The stratosphere starts between 4 and 12 miles above the Earth’s surface and extends around 31 miles, according to the National Weather Service.
Tensions are high between the U.S. and China. On Thursday, the Pentagon announced it would bolster the U.S. military presence near Taiwan, with plans to expand the number of U.S. military personnel in the Philippines. Announced during Austin’s visit to Manila, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) designates four more bases where U.S. military personnel can now base in strategic areas of the country, adding to the five already authorized to house American troops.
