U.S. Intel Watched Suspected Spy Balloon Take Off From China: Reports

Biden administration Multiple reports claim that intelligence officers observed the Chinese spy balloon, which was seen being shot down from South Carolina’s coast, since its launch.

U.S. monitors watched as the aircraft took off from Hainan Island near China’s south coast in late January nearly a week before it entered U.S. airspace, The New York Times reportedThis was previously unknown. Follow-up Reports The Washington Post And CBS News indicate U.S. intelligence tracked the balloon moving east toward Guam, but it suddenly veered north toward Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.

BREAKING: CBS News learned that U.S. intelligence viewed the Chinese spy ballon as it took off from China’s south coast. This means that the U.S. military was tracking the balloon for almost a week before it entered U.S. Airspace. pic.twitter.com/oaR5yZIRwm

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) February 15, 2023

The balloon then crossed the United States contiguous from Canada. On February 2, the U.S. government recognized the reconnaissance balloon as a suspected reconnaissance balloon after it was seen over Billings, Montana. Protest: Postponement of planned trip to China.

As officials warned that falling debris could cause injury to those below, the U.S. military did NOT shoot the balloon down before it reached the Atlantic Ocean.

The U.S. claims the object was a Chinese spy ball, but China claims that it was a civilian research vessel that was lost. Since then, the two countries have been accused of conspiring to spy on each other via balloons.

According to a senior State Department official, the Chinese balloon that flew past U.S. military bases was equipped with a variety of weapons. “multiple antennas” capable of collecting signals intelligence According to NBC News.

U.S. Northern Command reported that crews were recovered in the subsequent salvage operation. “significant debris” From the spot where the Chinese balloon exploded, “including all of the priority sensor and electronics pieces identified as well as large sections of the structure.”

Over the weekend, officials claim that three unidentified flying objects were shot by U.S. aircrafts from the skies above North America. One was over Alaska on Friday. On Saturday, another Canadian will be there, and another third on Sunday over Lake Huron.

It is unclear what the flying objects were. However, the Biden administration stated that UFOs are not thought to have come from outer space. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R. Texas) shared some insights Congress got from military officials.

“The UAPs [unidentified aerial phenomenons] were in FAA commercial zones and had no signals or navigation lights,” Crenshaw tweets “The first two UAPs were smaller, the size of an ATV, and harder to detect. The third resembled a balloon, and was easier for the radar to pick up. All moved with wind currents.”

The UAPs were within FAA commercial zones, and had no navigation lights or signals.

The UAPs the first two were smaller and more difficult to detect. The radar was able to detect the third UAP more easily because it resembled a balloon.

All were moved with the wind currents.

— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) February 14, 2023

According to Defense Department officials, North American Aerospace Defense Command’s radar has been modified to pick up smaller objects. This could explain the sudden rise in flying object detections. “Plus, there’s a heightened alert to look for this information,” NORAD Commander General Glen VanHerck On Sunday.

Salvage Operations For the three UFOs, work is underway. Some officials have Do they think they will be able find anything? Consider factors like winter weather and rough terrain.

John Kirby, White House National Security Spokesperson Tuesday, February 12, 2009 You can find out more about a “leading explanation” The U.S intelligence community offered the following: “were simply tied to commercial or research entities and therefore benign.” He said that the U.S. intelligence agency doubts that they are involved in a spying operation.

General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also revealed Tuesday that a missile fired in a U.S. Fighter Jet missed the UFO over Lake Huron. That missile landed. “harmlessly” The lake. A Second missile An F-16 was able to bring the flying object down.