Defense officers declare {that a} Chinese surveillance balloon has been drifting over the northern a part of the United States for the previous a number of days. The balloon is assumed to have traveled over various completely different states the place delicate protection installations (learn: nuclear silos) are located.
On Thursday, native information outlets in Montana reported that the Pentagon had confirmed that “a high altitude surveillance balloon” is “over the continental United States right now.” Pentagon spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, informed a number of shops that “the U.S. government, to include NORAD, continues to track and monitor it closely. 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 additionally informed information media that the federal government had “acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information,” however didn’t in any other case clarify what motion was taken. NBC reports that F-22 Raptors from Nellis Air Force base have been despatched to analyze the balloon however that officers wouldn’t say whether or not the balloon will probably be shot out of the sky or not. Other shops have reported that the Pentagon has beneficial not taking pictures down the balloon.
A video briefly trended on Twitter that purported to indicate proof of the surveillance balloon. In the video, a person factors his digicam telephone at what appears like a fuzzy, immobile dot within the sky. “What the heck is that? That’s not the sun!” the person exclaims, helpfully.
G/O Media could get a fee
Addiction counseling
Safe Haven Health
Accessible for all
Safe Haven prioritizes your needs with flexible and individuated substance abuse treatment, specifically opioid & alcohol addiction.
A local news outlet in Billings, Montana—where the balloon is said to have been spotted numerous times—published a photo of the mysterious, orb-like object:
Others merely resorted to Goodfellas jokes:
This is definitely a weird one. The incident comes at a time when the U.S. and China are having a bit of a tense moment. In an effort to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. recently initiated an settlement with the Philippines that permits for larger cooperation and a much bigger deployment of U.S. navy personnel within the area. Americans officers have additionally regularly expressed alarm at China’s increased activities within the South China Sea. Secretary of State Antony Blinken can be scheduled to head to China in a few days on a diplomatic go to.
The U.S. has reportedly “engaged” China concerning the blimp incident and communicated its displeasure.