Second Chinese Spy Balloon Operating in Sky, U.S Military Confirms

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has confirmed that a second Chinese spy balloon is operating in the skies above the Americas amid concerns over the first craft maneuvering above Montana.

Late Friday, the Pentagon released a statement confirming that the second balloon, like the first, is a โ€œChinese surveillanceโ€ airship.

โ€œWe are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America,โ€ Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.

โ€œWe now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon.โ€

Ryder revealed Friday that the spy balloon is currently operating over the United States.

However, the Biden administration has not taken action against it.

The Pentagon confirmed that the balloon has the ability to maneuver and has changed direction at 60,000 feet.

Ryder would not say how the balloon could be maneuvered and refused to state if Chinaโ€™s ruling Chinese Communist Party is in control of the balloon.

โ€œWe know that balloon has violated US airspace and international law โ€” which is unacceptable,โ€ he told reporters Friday.

โ€œAnd weโ€™ve conveyed this directly to the PRC on multiple levels.

โ€œThe fact is, we know that itโ€™s a surveillance balloon, and Iโ€™m not going to be able to be more specific than that.โ€

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed in a statement that the balloon was a โ€œcivilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological purposes.โ€

The statement claimed that the balloon โ€œdeviated far from its planned course.โ€

Slay the latest News for free!

We donโ€™t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

The distance from China to Montana is approximately 5,000 miles.

A U.S. officialย told The New York Times that the spy balloon traveled from China to Alaskaโ€™s Aleutian Islands and then to Canada before ending up over Montana.

An official told CNN that the spy balloon has flown over โ€œa number of sensitive sitesโ€ in the U.S.

However, the official claimed that it did not present a serious intelligence-gathering risk.

โ€œClearly theyโ€™re trying to fly this โ€” this balloon over sensitive sites โ€ฆ to collect information,โ€ a U.S. officialย saidย on Thursday.

Biden administration officials claimed that they looked at whether there were options to shoot down the balloon but claimed that they did not feel comfortable doing so because it could cause damage to civilians when it hits the ground.

Professor Steve Tsang, the director of the China Institute at the SOAS University of London, said that Chinaโ€™s motive in sending the balloon to the U.S. is more โ€œsymbolic value, showing that the Chinese are able to send something in the air to survey U.S. military installations.โ€

Democrat President Joe Biden has not yet commented on the escalating situation.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) tweeted: โ€œPresident Biden should stop coddling and appeasing the Chinese communists.

โ€œBring the balloon down now and exploit its tech package, which could be an intelligence bonanza.โ€

Similar sentiments are echoing through Republican ranks as the public demands a more muscular response.

READ MORE: Trump Offers Simple Solution for Chinese Balloon: Shoot It Down

SHARE:
join telegram

READERS' POLL

Who is the best president?

By completing this poll, you gain access to our free newsletter. Unsubscribe at any time.

Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.

To join, create a free account HERE.

If you are already a member, log in HERE.

Subscribe
Notify of

Recommended

3
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x