The US detects a Chinese spy hot air balloon over its territory

The United States has denounced the detection of an alleged Chinese spy hot air balloon, which is currently flying over its territory at high altitude and that it “poses no military or physical risk” to anyone on the surface.

The Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder He specified in a statement that the US is currently following “closely” the movements of the balloon, which travels at a higher altitude than commercial air traffic. “Once the balloon was detected, the US government immediately acted to protect itself against the collection of sensitive information” by China, said Ryder, who pointed out that it is not the first time that the authorities have detected such a device. type in recent years.

For his part, a high-ranking defense official said in a telephone conversation with reporters that they believe the balloon belongs to China and that US President Joe Biden has been informed about it. In fact, the president asked about possible “options” to the US military officials, while the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, met on Wednesday with the leadership of the Pentagon, despite the fact that he was on a trip to the Philippines.

Both the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, and the leader of the Northern Command, General Glen VanHerck, They strongly recommended “not to take any kinetic action” because of the risk it could pose to people on the surface.due to the possible fall of debris from the balloon.

In this sense, the Defense source explained that the device is “big enough” to cause damage if knocked to the ground. He explained that on Wednesday they evaluated the option of shooting it down in a sparsely populated area of ​​Montana (USA), but they chose not to risk it, and that they have received warnings from pilots who have sighted it despite the fact that it flies quite high. The Defense source assured that this device “has limited additional value” with regard to the collection of intelligence material.

The announcement comes before the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken begins a two-day visit to China this Sunday, in the first trip of a US foreign minister to the Asian country since 2018. The Defense official stated that after the detection of the balloon they have been in contact with Chinese officials through various channels, such as the respective Chinese and US embassies. USA in Washington and Beijing. “We have conveyed to them the seriousness with which we take this matter,” the source remarked, adding that the US “will do whatever is necessary to protect its people and its territory.”