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The US has been tracking Chinese surveillance balloons it suspects have been spotted in its airspace for several days, but the Pentagon decided not to shoot them down because of the risk of harm to people on the ground, officials said Thursday.
A senior defense official told Pentagon reporters that the US has “very high confidence” that China’s balloons are flying high and flying over sensitive sites to gather information.
One of the places where the balloons were found is Montana, which is home to one of the three US nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.
Canadian officials are aware of the reports about the balloon, with a senior source with direct knowledge of the situation telling CBC News they are evaluating the information and discussing it with their US counterparts.
There is no threat to the people below
US Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary, gave a brief statement, saying the government was still tracking the balloon.
He said it “now travels at higher altitudes than commercial air traffic and poses no military or physical threat to people on the ground.”
He said similar ballooning activity has been seen in the past few years. He added that the US is taking steps to ensure it does not collect sensitive information.
The defense official said the US had “engaged” Chinese officials through multiple channels and told them they were serious about the matter.
The Pentagon’s announcement comes days before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to China.
It is unclear whether this will affect his travel plans, which have not been announced by the US State Department.
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