China expert Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank told Reuters there was widespread use of spy balloons on the US and Soviet side during the Cold War.

Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, calls the balloon alarming but not surprising.

“The level of espionage that Beijing is targeting our country has become considerably more intense and brazen over the past five years,” he wrote on Twitter.

Several sensitive areas

The ministry believes the balloon has limited value as an intelligence tool, according to the same official. It would have flown over the northwest of the United States, where, among other things, is the base of Malmstrom, one of the three fields of underground silos for nuclear missiles in the country.

A spokesman told Reuters the ball in its preliminary trajectory will fly over several sensitive areas, but not go any further.

At the request of President Joe Biden, consideration was given to shooting the balloon down over the state of Montana, and F-22 fighter jets were prepared, but authorities chose not to do so in because of the high risk to the safety of people on board. floor.

A nod to Beijing

Biden reportedly asked what options were available to handle the situation, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reportedly held discussions with senior Pentagon officials on Wednesday. Austin was then himself in the Philippines.

News of the spy balloon comes just days before Foreign Minister Antony Blinken is due to visit China. It’s unclear whether this will affect his travel plans, which have not been officially announced by the State Department.

(© NTB)