2023 Chinese balloon incident
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (February 2023) |
| 2023 Chinese spy balloon incident | |||||
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| Belligerents | |||||
 United States Canada[1] |
 China (Suspected) | ||||
On February 2, 2023, United States defense officials observed what they suspected was a Chinese surveillance balloon, tracking its path across the US. Canadian officials also reported that they were monitoring a potential second incident.[1]
Location and origin
The balloon is flying at a high altitude in the stratosphere and does not pose a safety risk to commercial aircraft due to its extreme height.[2][3] It was tracked over Montana in early February having arrived in the continental United States after travelling through the Aleutian Islands and Canada.[3]
Purpose
The balloon is a large surveillance balloon with a technology bay, roughly the size of three buses.[4] It is not believed to be obtaining any intelligence that could not be gathered by satellites.[2] Previous balloon incursions have remained for a much shorter duration over the continental United States.[3]
Response
American defense officials considered shooting the balloon down but decided not to at present due to the risk of debris injuring civilians on the ground.[2] A meeting was convened between the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, the NORTHCOM/NORAD Commander General Glen D. VanHerck, and other military commanders.[3] President Joe Biden received a "strong recommendation" from officials that it not be shot down.[3] The balloon has been monitored by manned aircraft sent by NORAD including the early warning aircraft Boeing E-3 Sentry (commonly known as AWACS), and F-22 Raptor aircraft from Nellis Air Force Base.[2]
The failure of Canadian authorities to detect a Chinese surveillance balloon, believed to have been sent to spy on the country, has been considered troublesome. The balloon, which entered the United States through Alaska before entering Canada and then re-entering the United States, was not detected until it had reached its destination. Many have expressed concern that this incident has highlighted the lack of security measures in place to protect North America from potential espionage activities undertaken by foreign countries. The balloon highlights the continued need for improved border security measures and international cooperation to ensure the safety and security of countries[5].
Surveillance
Balloons are known, for instance, "Surveillance tethered aerostat systems". are engineered for the purpose by Hemeria Group. With a combination of helium and pressure, free floating high altitude information gathering has expanded greatly in recent years. "Giant Surveillance Balloons Are Lurking at the Edge of Space". as a less expensive alternative to space based satellites or fuel consumption costly aircraft photography.
References
- ^ a b "Statement on High Altitude Surveillance Balloon". www.canada.ca. Canada National Defence. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d Borger, Julian (3 February 2023). "Pentagon says it is monitoring Chinese spy balloon spotted flying over US". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Kube, Courtney; Lee, Carol E. (3 February 2023). "Suspected Chinese spy balloon found over northern U.S." NBC News. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Raddatz, Martha; Martinez, Luis (3 February 2023). "Large Chinese reconnaissance balloon spotted over the US, officials say". ABC News. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Defence, National (3 February 2023). "Statement on High Altitude Surveillance Balloon". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 3 February 2023.