A Chinese spy balloon was spotted over the U.S. by civilians on an airplane this week, the Defense Department revealed today, with President Biden initially ordering that it be shot down, according to news reports.
The U.S. “has detected and is tracking a high altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental U.S. right now,” Brigadier General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, said today, the Wall Street Journal reported. Ryder added, “Once the balloon was detected the U.S. government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information.”
According to the Journal, President Biden had initially ordered that the reconnaissance device be shot down but was rebuffed by the Pentagon, which worried that such a move could cause civilian casualties. The balloon first was spotted by passengers onboard a civilian aircraft, the paper also reported.
A senior defense official, in comments reported by NBC, downplayed the balloon’s intelligence value because the Chinese government has other surveillance options. That official also said the U.S. could have taken it down during a period in which it flew over Montana and that it entered the U.S. over Alaska, then flew over Canada. This person also said the U.S. has confidently attributed the balloon, which is still over the U.S., to China and that Washington has raised the issue with Chinese officials “through multiple channels.”
The balloon was spotted at one point above Malmstrom Air Force Base, which is home to nuclear-missile silos, the Associated Press reported. Ryder also reportedly said it doesn’t pose a threat to air traffic nor civilians on the ground.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is slated to travel to China later this week, where he will meet senior officials. The Financial Times reported today that Blinken is expected to meet General Secretary Xi Jinping.