U.S. Confirms Chinese Spy Balloon Entered U.S. Airspace from South Coast of China

U.S. intelligence officials have confirmed that the spy balloon shot down earlier this month was launched from the south coast of China. After takeoff, the balloon drifted east in the direction of Guam and Hawaii, before going north to Alaska and entering U.S. airspace on Jan. 28.

The U.S. was monitoring the balloon since it went aloft from Hainan Island along China’s south coast. It is possible that the balloon was blown off course by weather, but U.S. officials said that once it came south over the continental United States, it was being controlled by China.

The State Department released a statement last week that the balloon contained unspecified items. The Washington Post is now examining the possibility that the People’s Liberation Army simply lost control of the balloon intended to surveil Guam.

The incident has caused a lot of speculation and a scramble of jet fighters over Canada and the far North of the United States. U.S. officials have now confirmed the origin of the balloon and are continuing to investigate the incident.