Key takeaways:
- The Pentagon has confirmed a Chinese spy balloon is currently floating over the US
- The US has rejected China’s claims that the balloon is not being used for surveillance
- The US and its Canadian partners are continuing to monitor the balloon and are working to determine the best course of action to address the situation
The Pentagon has confirmed that a Chinese spy balloon is currently floating over the central United States. The balloon, which is the size of three buses, has been seen over Montana, and is believed to be carrying out surveillance of a number of sensitive sites in the US.
The US has rejected China’s claims that the balloon is not being used for surveillance, and is now considering its options for dealing with the balloon. While the military had previously ruled out shooting it down due to potential risks to people on the ground, General Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, refused to provide details on whether there was any new consideration of shooting it down.
Ultimately, officials determined that the potential damage of falling debris outweighed the risk of the balloon itself, which they said does not have the ability to bring in more intelligence than spy satellites in low Earth orbit, which China already uses. The balloon is currently at an altitude of about 60,000 feet, is maneuverable, and has changed course.
The US and its Canadian partners are continuing to monitor the balloon, and are working to determine the best course of action to address the situation. In the meantime, the Pentagon has urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
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