What is known about the alleged Chinese spy balloon flying over US soil? [VIDEO]

The Pentagon is tracking a suspected Chinese spy balloon flying over US soil, a US defense official said.

At the request of President Joe Biden, the Department of Defense considered shooting down the plane but decided not to because of the potential risks to people on the ground, the source, who asked not to be named, said.

“Obviously, the purpose of this balloon is surveillance, and the current flight path passes over a number of important objects,” the official said.

He balloon flew over the northwest USAwhere there are secret air bases and strategic nuclear missiles in underground silos, but the Pentagon doesn’t think the device poses much of a threat because it “has limited added value in terms of intelligence gathering.”

“We are taking steps to protect ourselves from the collection of sensitive information by foreign intelligence,” said the official, however, who said he “has no doubt that the balloon is coming from China”.

He balloon it entered US airspace “a few days ago,” the official said, but had previously been tracked by US intelligence agencies.

Several combat aircraft examined the balloon as it flew over Montana (North). It currently flies “at an altitude well above commercial air traffic” and “poses no military or physical threat to people on the ground,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said in a statement.

“Do not take kinetic action”

Both heads of the Joint Chiefs of Staff USAGeneral Mark Milley, as well as the head of the Northern Command, General Glen VanHurke, urged “no kinetic action to be taken” because of the risk this could pose to people on the surface due to the potential fall of balloon debris. .

In that sense, a Department of Defense source explained that the device is “large enough” to cause damage if dropped on the ground.

He explained that on Wednesday they were evaluating the option of shooting him down in a sparsely populated area of ​​Montana (USA), but chose not to risk it, and that they had received warnings from pilots who spotted it despite it flying quite high.

A Department of Defense source assured that the device “has limited added value” in relation to intelligence collection.

The announcement comes before the Secretary of State for Affairs USAAnthony Blinken, starts this Sunday a two-day visit to Chinaduring the first trip by a US foreign secretary to an Asian country since 2018.

The representative of the Ministry of Defense stated that after the discovery balloon have been in contact with Chinese officials through various channels such as the respective embassies China And USA in Washington and Beijing.

“We conveyed to them the seriousness with which we treat this issue,” the source said, adding that the United States “will do everything necessary to protect its people and its territory.”

Chinese response

Beijing asked this Friday not to “speculate” after accusing the Pentagon that balloon spy on China flew USA high.

“Until the facts are cleared up, speculation and hype will not properly resolve this issue,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press conference on Friday.

According to Mao, “Beijing is checking reports that over USA”, although he stressed that “China has no intention of violating the territory or airspace of any sovereign state.”

“China hopes to resolve this matter calmly and prudently with USA”, he added.

(According to EFE and AFP)

Espacio Vital: Dr. José Suárez Reyes, neurologist and head of the department of neurodegenerative diseases at the National Institute of Neurological Sciences, said involuntary movements are considered rare and may be neurological in origin or secondary to another type of disease. He explained that neurological movements include tremors, dystonia (sprains), and myoclonus (hiccough-like shaking). A specialist in involuntary movements pointed out that they distinguish between a resting tremor when a person does not make any movements, and an intentional tremor when moving.

Fernando Carvallo selects information and shares his vision of national and international news. subscribe to our Las cosas newsletter, as they should be reading your daily columns.