was tracked by US intelligence agencies spy balloon It was shot down earlier this month after it took off from China’s southern coast, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.
After takeoff, the reconnaissance balloon drifted east toward Guam and Hawaii before heading north toward Alaska and entering U.S. airspace on Jan. 28, according to U.S. officials. However, US officials said it was being controlled by China as it made its way south into the US mainland.
The balloon chase was first reported by Washington Post.
China claims the balloon was for weather observation and went off course.a State Department officials said in a statement Last week, the balloon contained equipment “apparently for monitoring intelligence activities”, including “multiple antennas” that “can collect communications and determine geolocation”.
Pentagon officials confirmed On February 2, they said they were chasing a reconnaissance balloon and did not want to shoot it down given the damage. rubble can cause it. After the announcement that the U.S. was in pursuit, the balloon stopped loitering and headed for the East Coast as fast as it could, U.S. officials said.American fighter shoot down A balloon off the coast of South Carolina on February 4th.
China on Monday US flew more than 10 surveillance balloons “It’s common for US balloons to illegally enter other countries’ airspace,” said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. The US denies operating surveillance balloons over China.
Secretary of State Antony Brinken postponed a planned trip to China when news broke that Chinese balloons were flying in US airspace. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Tuesday when asked if China was hurting diplomatic relations.
Meanwhile, the White House said Tuesday it had other “strong considerations” 3 objects shot down Stocks in the US and Canada over the weekend were “benign.” But until the debris is collected and analyzed, that’s not certain.
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