High tension between Washington and Beijing due to the Chinese spy bubble seen in the US sky yesterday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled his planned trip to China. Meanwhile, the story continues. It’s like the ‘bubble’ ride between questions and partial answers. “The first step is to get it out of our airspace,” Blinken used the formula.
What is the spy balloon looking for?
What is China’s goal? What information should the balloon collect, which is ‘only’ a tool to monitor the weather for Beijing? The Chinese version obviously does not convince the US. Moving eastward, the balloon could be used to gather information about telecommunications systems and radars in the United States, according to American analysts. Basically, the instruments attached to the balloon will be able to gather information and transmit it to Beijing. According to CNN, the US has taken steps to prevent the ‘balloon’ from collecting sensitive data.
The balloon was reported in the skies of Montana, in areas where silos are installed for intercontinental missiles, and in areas where strategic bases are used by bombers. The Pentagon announced that the balloon, which was also detected by the pilots of various flights (especially about 30 km from the Kansas City airport in Missouri), is a ‘spy’ model and can be operated remotely. It currently flies at higher altitudes than civilian flights.
‘Cause it won’t be shot
The Pentagon has declared that the hypothesis of lowering the bubble is currently not being considered, as requested by several Republican advocates and appealed to, among others, by former President Donald Trump. “Given its size, the debris would be substantial and could injure or kill civilians and also cause significant damage,” General Pat Ryder summed up, adding, “I can’t give any further information, we’re monitoring the situation.” The balloon, which is expected to remain in US skies for a few more days, currently “does not pose a military or physical threat”.
Second ball in Latin America
After the first observation yesterday, a second spy bubble has been spotted in Latin America. “We are receiving reports of a balloon passing through Latin America. We are now assessing that this is another Chinese surveillance balloon,” General Patrick Ryder told CNN. It’s unclear exactly where the bubble is over Latin America, but a US official told CNN it doesn’t appear to be heading to the US at this time.
China: “It was an accident”
The unmanned Chinese balloon that entered US airspace was a “force majeure” accident. “This is a civilian airship used for research purposes, mainly meteorological,” said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
The spokesperson also said that maintaining “contact and communication at all levels” is an important common understanding that the Chinese and US presidents reached at their meeting in Bali, referring to the three-hour meeting between United States president Joe Biden and China. President Xi Jinping in November. And “This is completely unexpected due to force majeure and the facts are clear.”
“China has always acted in strict accordance with international law – he underlined – and respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. We have no intention and have never violated the territory or airspace of any sovereign country. Some politicians and media supported him to attack and defame China. But we are absolutely against it.” Yesterday, the Pentagon publicly denied the Chinese government’s claim that the balloon was for civilian research purposes, and said the United States knew it was a “watch balloon”.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
