The Pentagon stated a second Chinese “surveillance balloon” was flying over Latin America on Friday (Feb. 3). The info comes after the primary balloon was detected within the United States.
“We observed reports of a balloon transiting Latin America. We now assess that it is another Chinese surveillance balloon,” Defense Department spokesman Pat Ryder stated with out specifying its precise location.
The US authorities referred to as the identification of an alleged Chinese spy balloon an “irresponsible act” by Beijing.
In responding to the American statements, the Chinese authorities stated it was an unintentional incident.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a go to to Beijing due to the incident.
“This is an irresponsible act and a clear violation of American sovereignty and international law that undermines the purpose of the trip,” he informed him, in line with a U.S. State Department spokesman.
“We understand that China regrets this, but the presence of this balloon in our airspace is a clear violation of our sovereignty, as well as international law, and is unacceptable,” stated a U.S. official who requested to not be recognized.
On Thursday (Feb. 2), the US authorities stated it had “not the slightest doubt” in regards to the origin of the balloon, which flew at excessive altitude, and the truth that it was used for espionage.
Initially, the Chinese authorities requested to not exaggerate the problem however finally acknowledged that it was certainly an equipment from China.
“It is a civilian aircraft used for scientific purposes, mainly meteorological,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman stated in a press release.
Because of the wind, the balloon “deviated its trajectory,” he stated, and added that his nation “regrets” that it had entered US airspace by “a greater force.”
“I can tell you that the balloon is heading east and is currently over the center of the country,” at an altitude of 18,000 meters, and can stay in U.S. territory for just a few days, the Pentagon spokesman stated.
The balloon flies “at an altitude well above that of commercial air traffic and poses no military or a physical threat to people on the ground.”
According to the American press, the balloon flew over the Aleutian Islands within the northern Pacific Ocean and Canada earlier than getting into US airspace two days in the past.
The object flew over the state of Montana, residence to nuclear missile amenities, the place fighter planes have been mobilized and approached it, a Pentagon official, who requested to not be recognized, stated yesterday.