Chinese Spy Balloon Hovering Over United States: Report

A suspected Chinese According to U.S. authorities a reconnaissance balloon device was seen flying above Montana this Week.

Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder  That the United States “has detected and is tracking a high altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now.”

“We continue to track and monitor it closely,” Ryder. “Once the balloon was detected the U.S. government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information.”

“The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground,” Ryder .

According to The Wall Street Journal Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor and other top defense officials spoke with President Joe Biden on Wednesday about the situation. Officials said that Biden suggested that a balloon be shot from the sky after seeing it from a commercial airplane. Due to civilian death, the Pentagon opposed such an action.

The balloon was seen It was found above Billings in Montana on Wednesday, having crossed Canada from the Aleutian Islands. According to NBC, a top defense official stated that the device was still in place over the country but didn’t say where it is at the moment.

Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense, gathered top military leaders to discuss how to respond to the balloon. They decided against recommending a rapid take-down because of the potential danger to people below. The different responses were presented to Biden by the military leaders on Wednesday.

“Currently we assess that this balloon has limited additive value from an intelligence collection perspective over and above what the PRC can do through other means,” According to NBC News, the senior defense official stated this. “Nevertheless we are taking all necessary steps to protect against foreign intelligence collection of sensitive information.”

According to the official, the military will monitor the device and consider taking it down.

“We are tracking it in minute detail in real time and we will constantly update our assessment,” According to the official. “We are in constant surveillance of this thing through a bunch of different means.”

The official also said that the United States is sure that the device is one of China’s and have conveyed that to the Chinese government “through multiple channels both here in D.C. and in Beijing.”

Although this was true in the past, it does not seem to be the case this time. The official says that the device is staying present for longer than normal.