Image: Montana News Agency
The Pentagon is tracking a mystery object they are calling a "Chinese balloon" making its way across the continental US. On Thursday morning, media outlets reported on the incident citing the military's concern over such a blatant act of intrusion allegedly perpetrated by the People's Liberation Army.
"The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is flying over the continental United States right now," Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters. "NORAD [North American Aerospace Defense Command] continues to track and monitor it closely."
Apparently, this isn't the first time China has launched 'observation' platforms to gather intelligence over US territory and American maritime assets abroad. For quite some time now, rumors of Chinese drones invading the airspace of US Navy battle groups have prompted Congress to take action in the form of legislation instructing the armed forces to monitor and report any and all intrusions by foreign, all-domain platforms snooping about near our fair shores.
In the meantime, Pentagon officials are debating whether to shoot down the mystery interloper or let it continue on its course; with many advising against the former option, lest we end up with another Roswell-like debris field.
Large Chinese reconnaissance balloon spotted over the US, officials say
A massive spy balloon from China has been surveilling the United States, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday
abcnews.go.com
