China Spying on Dozens of Countries With ‘High-Altitude Balloon Program,’ White House Says

China keeps a thriving economy “high-altitude balloon program for intelligence collection” John Kirby, White House spokesperson said that surveillance devices have been sent to dozens of countries.

Kirby confirmed that the White House could not confirm that the three objects the U.S. military has shot down are part of the program. However, recovery efforts for the devices are ongoing.

The U.S. military has shot down four flying objects, starting with the Chinese spy ball on February 4. Since then, objects have been shot down over Alaska, Canada, and Lake Huron.

Security concerns have been raised in Washington by the four incidents, which raise concern about China’s potential airspace intrusions. Kirby claimed that the Pentagon doesn’t track any other flying objects.

Kirby responded to the incidents by announcing that the administration would create an interagency group. “study the broader policy implications for detection, analysis, and disposition of unidentified aerial objects that pose either safety or security risks.”

As the devices were being intercepted, officials temporarily closed off portions of Montana and Lake Huron’s airspace.

Biden was criticized for allowing the Chinese spy balloon to floate across the United States, before directing it to be shot down over the Atlantic Ocean. Antony Blinken, Secretary of the State, cancelled last week his trip to China to meet with Xi Jinping, Chinese president.