BEIJING -- U.S. officials say a massive surveillance balloon believed to
be from China and seen above Montana is being tracked as it flies over the continental United States.
"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 said in a statement on Thursday. "NORAD [North American Aerospace Defense Command] continues to track and monitor
it closely."
China's foreign ministry has claimed it is a civilian balloon used for meteorological purposes, but U.S. politicians, many on the right, are
already demanding President Joe Biden shoot it down.
Feb. 03, 2:16 p.m. EST
Biden first briefed Tuesday, took military's recommendation on balloon: WH
President Joe Biden was first briefed about the Chinese surveillance
balloon on Tuesday, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean- Pierre, two days before the news was publicly confirmed by U.S. officials.
"He asked the military to present options," she told reporters in a gaggle
on Air Force One. "It was the strong recommendation by Secretary Austin, Chairman Milley, the commander of Northern Command, not to take kinetic action because of the risk to safety and security of the people on the ground. President Biden took that recommendation from the military seriously."
"The president will always put the safety of the security of the American people first," she said.
Jean-Pierre said Biden continues to receive regular briefings from
national security team, and that he "agreed" with Secretary of State Blinken's decision to delay his trip to China.
"We are tracking closely and keeping all options on the table," the press secretary said.
Feb. 03, 1:41 p.m. EST
Biden again ignores questions on Chinese balloon
President Joe Biden didn't answer questions reporters shouted about the Chinese surveillance balloon as he left the White House and boarded Marine One shortly after 1 p.m. Friday.
Biden has yet to publicly comment on the balloon since it was confirmed to
be flying over the continental U.S. by officials on Thursday.
Biden is heading to Philadelphia, where he and Vice President Kamala
Harris will appear at an infrastructure event in the afternoon and then
later will speak at the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting.
Feb. 03, 1:27 p.m. EST
'Gang of 8' staff received classified briefing on Chinese surveillance balloon
Staff to the so-called "Gang of 8" received a classified briefing on the balloon by the administration Thursday afternoon, according to multiple congressional officials.
The "Gang of 8" refers to the group of congressional leaders who are
briefed on classified intelligence matters. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., requested a meeting with the group on Thursday.
"China's brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action
that must be addressed, and President Biden cannot be silent," McCarthy
said.
It's unclear if the classified briefing for the staff is a precursor to
their bosses being briefed. No meeting appears to be on the books so far.
-ABC News' Trish Turner
Feb. 03, 12:50 p.m. EST
Surveillance balloon is 'maneuverable,' Pentagon says
After saying the Chinese surveillance ballon was headed eastward, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the balloon is
"maneuverable."
"So, the balloon is maneuverable. Clearly, it's violated U.S. air space,
and again we've communicated that fact to the PRC," Ryder said.
"The balloon has changed its course, which is why we are monitoring it.
That is as specific as I can get," he said, not giving further details on
how it could be maneuvered.
"We continue to assess and make appropriate decisions based on how we are going to address what we perceive as a potential threat," Ryder added.
"The safety and security of the American people is paramount. At this time
we assess it does not pose a physical threat to people on the ground."
Feb. 03, 12:33 p.m. EST
Pentagon confirms shooting down balloon was an 'option'
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder confirmed Friday that shooting down the balloon was considered.
"In terms of the discussions about whether or not to shoot down this
balloon, that was an option. That was something that was taken into consideration," Ryder said. "Again, because we assessed that currently it does not pose a physical or military risk to people on the ground, for now
we are continuing to monitor and review options."
Ryder said because of the "size" of the balloon, "any potential debris
field would be significant and potential cause civilian injuries or deaths
or significant property damage."
Ryder was asked multiple times if the U.S. will shoot down the balloon
once it's over a body of water.
"We are monitoring the situation closely, but beyond that I will not have
any additional information," he said.
When asked how close President Joe Biden was to ordering a shootdown of
the balloon, Ryder said he "will not get into internal discussions with
the White House."
Feb. 03, 12:19 p.m. EST
'We know its a surveillance balloon,' Pentagon says, disputing China's
claims
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder disputed statements from China that the balloon spotted over the continental U.S. is a
meteorological research device.
"We are aware of the PRC (People's Republic of China) statements. However, the fact is, we know it's a surveillance balloon," Ryder said. "I'm not
going to be able to be more specific than that."
"We do know that the balloon has violated U.S. airspace and international law, which is not acceptable," Ryder told reporters. "We've conveyed this directly to the PRC at multiple levels."
Feb. 03, 12:13 p.m. EST
Balloon is moving eastward, now hovering over the central US
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder provided an update
Friday on where the balloon is flying.
"While we won't get into specifics in regards to the exact location I can tell you that the balloon continues to move eastward and is currently over the center of the continental United States," Ryder told reporters.
"Again, we currently assess that the balloon does not present a military
or physical threat to people on the ground at this time."
Feb. 03, 12:04 p.m. EST
GOP lawmaker says he's in favor of 'shooting' China balloon down
Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher, chair of the newly-formed House Select Committee on China, told ABC News Live on Friday he doesn't "buy" China's statements that the balloon flying over the U.S. is a meteorological
device that was blown off course.
"It also doesn't strike me as a coincidence that this was in the vicinity
of the Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana," Gallagher said, "where we
have our Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles."
Gallagher said he believed Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made "the
right call" postponing his trip to China over the controversy.
On the balloon itself, Gallagher said he was "in favor of shooting it
down."
"I think we had plenty of options to shoot it down or even better, find a
way to reduce its altitude and capture it so we can get a look at the instrumentation," he told ABC News' Alexis Christoforous.
Feb. 03, 11:35 a.m. EST
US will keep lines of communication open with China: Official
A senior State Department official said the U.S. was still dedicated to keeping lines of communication with China open despite postponing
Secretary Antony Blinken's visit.
"The secretary was prepared to depart for Beijing tonight to take on a wide-ranging agenda," the official told reporters. "We have noted the PRC statement of regret, but the presence of this balloon in our airspace is a clear violation of our sovereignty as well as international law. And it is unacceptable it has occurred."
"After consolations with our interagency partners, as well as with
Congress, we have concluded that the conditions are not right at the
moment for Secretary Blinken to travel to China," the official added.
The official said Blinken has indicated he will visit China when
conditions allow, but did not stipulate what those conditions would have
to be.
They also said talks with Beijing would continue across multiple levels of government and that Blinken had been in touch with his Chinese counterpart Friday morning.
"We will maintain open lines of communication with the PRC to address our concerns about this ongoing incident and to responsibly manage the competition between our countries," the official said.
Asked whether the department believed China's explanation of the balloon's purpose and how it happened into American airspace, the official said, "We remain confident in our assessment of the situation."
-ABC News' Shannon Crawford
<https://abc7.com/chinese-spy-balloon-china-over-montana-us/12766077/>
bawk bawk biden! wrote on 2/3/2023 7:31 PM:
BEIJING -- U.S. officials say a massive surveillance balloon believed to
be from China and seen above Montana is being tracked as it flies over
the
continental United States.
"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 said in a statement on Thursday. "NORAD
[North American Aerospace Defense Command] continues to track and monitor
it closely."
China's foreign ministry has claimed it is a civilian balloon used for
meteorological purposes, but U.S. politicians, many on the right, are
already demanding President Joe Biden shoot it down.
Feb. 03, 2:16 p.m. EST
Biden first briefed Tuesday, took military's recommendation on
balloon: WH
President Joe Biden was first briefed about the Chinese surveillance
balloon on Tuesday, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-
Pierre, two days before the news was publicly confirmed by U.S.
officials.
"He asked the military to present options," she told reporters in a
gaggle
on Air Force One. "It was the strong recommendation by Secretary Austin,
Chairman Milley, the commander of Northern Command, not to take kinetic
action because of the risk to safety and security of the people on the
ground. President Biden took that recommendation from the military
seriously."
"The president will always put the safety of the security of the American
people first," she said.
Jean-Pierre said Biden continues to receive regular briefings from
national security team, and that he "agreed" with Secretary of State
Blinken's decision to delay his trip to China.
"We are tracking closely and keeping all options on the table," the press
secretary said.
Feb. 03, 1:41 p.m. EST
Biden again ignores questions on Chinese balloon
President Joe Biden didn't answer questions reporters shouted about the
Chinese surveillance balloon as he left the White House and boarded
Marine
One shortly after 1 p.m. Friday.
Biden has yet to publicly comment on the balloon since it was
confirmed to
be flying over the continental U.S. by officials on Thursday.
Biden is heading to Philadelphia, where he and Vice President Kamala
Harris will appear at an infrastructure event in the afternoon and then
later will speak at the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting.
Feb. 03, 1:27 p.m. EST
'Gang of 8' staff received classified briefing on Chinese surveillance
balloon
Staff to the so-called "Gang of 8" received a classified briefing on the
balloon by the administration Thursday afternoon, according to multiple
congressional officials.
The "Gang of 8" refers to the group of congressional leaders who are
briefed on classified intelligence matters. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy,
R-Calif., requested a meeting with the group on Thursday.
"China's brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action
that must be addressed, and President Biden cannot be silent," McCarthy
said.
It's unclear if the classified briefing for the staff is a precursor to
their bosses being briefed. No meeting appears to be on the books so far.
-ABC News' Trish Turner
Feb. 03, 12:50 p.m. EST
Surveillance balloon is 'maneuverable,' Pentagon says
After saying the Chinese surveillance ballon was headed eastward,
Pentagon
press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the balloon is
"maneuverable."
"So, the balloon is maneuverable. Clearly, it's violated U.S. air space,
and again we've communicated that fact to the PRC," Ryder said.
"The balloon has changed its course, which is why we are monitoring it.
That is as specific as I can get," he said, not giving further details on
how it could be maneuvered.
"We continue to assess and make appropriate decisions based on how we are
going to address what we perceive as a potential threat," Ryder added.
"The safety and security of the American people is paramount. At this
time
we assess it does not pose a physical threat to people on the ground."
Feb. 03, 12:33 p.m. EST
Pentagon confirms shooting down balloon was an 'option'
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder confirmed Friday that
shooting down the balloon was considered.
"In terms of the discussions about whether or not to shoot down this
balloon, that was an option. That was something that was taken into
consideration," Ryder said. "Again, because we assessed that currently it
does not pose a physical or military risk to people on the ground, for
now
we are continuing to monitor and review options."
Ryder said because of the "size" of the balloon, "any potential debris
field would be significant and potential cause civilian injuries or
deaths
or significant property damage."
Ryder was asked multiple times if the U.S. will shoot down the balloon
once it's over a body of water.
"We are monitoring the situation closely, but beyond that I will not have
any additional information," he said.
When asked how close President Joe Biden was to ordering a shootdown of
the balloon, Ryder said he "will not get into internal discussions with
the White House."
Feb. 03, 12:19 p.m. EST
'We know its a surveillance balloon,' Pentagon says, disputing China's
claims
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder disputed statements
from
China that the balloon spotted over the continental U.S. is a
meteorological research device.
"We are aware of the PRC (People's Republic of China) statements.
However,
the fact is, we know it's a surveillance balloon," Ryder said. "I'm not
going to be able to be more specific than that."
"We do know that the balloon has violated U.S. airspace and international
law, which is not acceptable," Ryder told reporters. "We've conveyed this
directly to the PRC at multiple levels."
Feb. 03, 12:13 p.m. EST
Balloon is moving eastward, now hovering over the central US
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder provided an update
Friday on where the balloon is flying.
"While we won't get into specifics in regards to the exact location I can
tell you that the balloon continues to move eastward and is currently
over
the center of the continental United States," Ryder told reporters.
"Again, we currently assess that the balloon does not present a military
or physical threat to people on the ground at this time."
Feb. 03, 12:04 p.m. EST
GOP lawmaker says he's in favor of 'shooting' China balloon down
The US government is deliberately omitting to tell the world the
altitude of the balloon.
Why?
I am sure the US government knows how high the balloon is. Why does the
US government omit this information?
Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher, chair of the newly-formed House Select
Committee on China, told ABC News Live on Friday he doesn't "buy" China's
statements that the balloon flying over the U.S. is a meteorological
device that was blown off course.
"It also doesn't strike me as a coincidence that this was in the vicinity
of the Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana," Gallagher said, "where we
have our Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles."
Gallagher said he believed Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made "the
right call" postponing his trip to China over the controversy.
On the balloon itself, Gallagher said he was "in favor of shooting it
down."
"I think we had plenty of options to shoot it down or even better, find a
way to reduce its altitude and capture it so we can get a look at the
instrumentation," he told ABC News' Alexis Christoforous.
Feb. 03, 11:35 a.m. EST
US will keep lines of communication open with China: Official
A senior State Department official said the U.S. was still dedicated to
keeping lines of communication with China open despite postponing
Secretary Antony Blinken's visit.
"The secretary was prepared to depart for Beijing tonight to take on a
wide-ranging agenda," the official told reporters. "We have noted the PRC
statement of regret, but the presence of this balloon in our airspace
is a
clear violation of our sovereignty as well as international law. And
it is
unacceptable it has occurred."
"After consolations with our interagency partners, as well as with
Congress, we have concluded that the conditions are not right at the
moment for Secretary Blinken to travel to China," the official added.
The official said Blinken has indicated he will visit China when
conditions allow, but did not stipulate what those conditions would have
to be.
They also said talks with Beijing would continue across multiple
levels of
government and that Blinken had been in touch with his Chinese
counterpart
Friday morning.
"We will maintain open lines of communication with the PRC to address our
concerns about this ongoing incident and to responsibly manage the
competition between our countries," the official said.
Asked whether the department believed China's explanation of the
balloon's
purpose and how it happened into American airspace, the official said,
"We
remain confident in our assessment of the situation."
-ABC News' Shannon Crawford
<https://abc7.com/chinese-spy-balloon-china-over-montana-us/12766077/>
The US government is deliberately omitting to tell the world the
altitude of the balloon.
Why?
I am sure the US government knows how high the balloon is. Why does the
US government omit this information?
On Fri, 3 Feb 2023 20:26:43 -0500, Mighty? Wannabe? <@.> wrote:
The US government is deliberately omitting to tell the world theThey've already said its at 60,000 feet, you illiterate, dumb shit.
altitude of the balloon.
Why?
I am sure the US government knows how high the balloon is. Why does the
US government omit this information?
You see, you ignorant fuck. Do you know the significance of "60,000 feet"? >>Yet they did, you simpering oaf. "60,000" feet.
That is the reason the US government deliberately didn't mention the
altitude of the balloon.
Mighty Wannabe's Co-Owner wrote on 2/4/2023 6:55 AM:
On Fri, 3 Feb 2023 20:26:43 -0500, Mighty? Wannabe? <@.> wrote:
The US government is deliberately omitting to tell the world theThey've already said its at 60,000 feet, you illiterate, dumb shit.
altitude of the balloon.
Why?
I am sure the US government knows how high the balloon is. Why does the >>>>> US government omit this information?
You see, you ignorant fuck. Do you know the significance of "60,000 feet"? >>>
That is the reason the US government deliberately didn't mention the >>>altitude of the balloon.
Yet they did, you simpering oaf. "60,000" feet.
What part if that is too difficult for your alcohol-soaked brain to
grasp?
When you report the sighting of an object up in the air, the altitude is >>>the most important parameter to describe the object, and the US >>>government deliberately omitted it. I could smell a rat right away.
No, they did not. I've heard *and* read about it countless times
already.
Have you figured out the significance of "60,000 feet" yet?
You sure as shit haven't. Go back to sucking down those Colt 45's and
quit humiliating yourself.
So you still haven't figured out the significance of "60,000 feet" that
the US government tried to hide from the public, you mouthbreathing gun
loon?
Mighty Wannabe's Co-Owner wrote on 2/4/2023 6:55 AM:
On Fri, 3 Feb 2023 20:26:43 -0500, Mighty? Wannabe? <@.> wrote:
The US government is deliberately omitting to tell the world theThey've already said its at 60,000 feet, you illiterate, dumb shit.
altitude of the balloon.
Why?
I am sure the US government knows how high the balloon is. Why does the
US government omit this information?
You see, you ignorant fuck. Do you know the significance of "60,000 feet"?
That is the reason the US government deliberately didn't mention the
altitude of the balloon.
When you report the sighting of an object up in the air, the altitude is
the most important parameter to describe the object, and the US
government deliberately omitted it. I could smell a rat right away.
Have you figured out the significance of "60,000 feet" yet?
Still waiting for you to explain your 60,000 foot fantasy. What's
keeping you?
Klaus Schadenfreude wrote on 2/4/2023 9:42 AM:
Still waiting for you to explain your 60,000 foot fantasy. What's
keeping you?
60,000 ft is the internationally defined boundary of domestic airspace.
That means the Chinese balloon is flying in international airspace, not >American airspace.
Klaus Schadenfreude wrote on 2/4/2023 9:42 AM:
Still waiting for you to explain your 60,000 foot fantasy. What's
keeping you?
60,000 ft is the internationally defined boundary of domestic airspace.
On Sat, 4 Feb 2023 09:52:30 -0500, Mighty✅ Wannabe✅ <@.> wrote:
Klaus Schadenfreude wrote on 2/4/2023 9:42 AM:Go ahead and cite that "international definition,"
Still waiting for you to explain your 60,000 foot fantasy. What's
keeping you?
60,000 ft is the internationally defined boundary of domestic airspace.
Wrong. It's in our airspace. That's why China is apologizing, nitwit!
60,000 ft is the internationally defined boundary of domestic airspace.
That means the Chinese balloon is flying in international airspace, not
American airspace.
There are satellites flying at all sorts of altitudes above China and
the US. Those satellites don't violet any country's airspace because
they are well above 60,000 ft.
If the US shoots down a Chinese balloon at 60,000ft or above, it sets a
precedent for China to shoot down American spy satellites and American
unmanned space shuttle at any altitude above China.
Klaus Schadenfreude wrote on 2/4/2023 10:05 AM:
On Sat, 4 Feb 2023 09:52:30 -0500, Mighty? Wannabe? <@.> wrote:
Klaus Schadenfreude wrote on 2/4/2023 9:42 AM:Go ahead and cite that "international definition,"
Still waiting for you to explain your 60,000 foot fantasy. What's
keeping you?
60,000 ft is the internationally defined boundary of domestic airspace.
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/media/17_phak_ch15.pdf
Wrong. It's in our airspace. That's why China is apologizing, nitwit!
Chinese are polite people, unlike you lowbrow mounthbreathing obnoxious >idiots.
If you shoot down their balloon outside of your airspace boundary, you
set a precedent for your own satellites and unmanned space shuttle to be
shot down over China.
Klaus Schadenfreude wrote on 2/4/2023 10:05 AM:
On Sat, 4 Feb 2023 09:52:30 -0500, Mighty? Wannabe? <@.> wrote:
Klaus Schadenfreude wrote on 2/4/2023 9:42 AM:Go ahead and cite that "international definition,"
Still waiting for you to explain your 60,000 foot fantasy. What's
keeping you?
60,000 ft is the internationally defined boundary of domestic airspace.
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/media/17_phak_ch15.pdf
If you shoot down their balloon outside of your airspace boundary, youThen we would nuke them.
set a precedent for your own satellites and unmanned space shuttle to be
shot down over China.
Superior Mr. Schadenfreude schooled me on 2/4/2023 10:40 AM:
If you shoot down their balloon outside of your airspace boundary, youThen we would nuke them.
set a precedent for your own satellites and unmanned space shuttle to be >>> shot down over China.
I think not. We are three time loser to the Chinese.
Mao kicked our arse during the Mao-Chiang civil war.
Stupid Kraut Schedenfreude wrote on 2/4/2023 10:40 AM:
If you shoot down their balloon outside of your airspace boundary, youThen we would nuke them.
set a precedent for your own satellites and unmanned space shuttle
to be
shot down over China.
I think not. We are three time loser to the Chinese.
Mao kicked our arse during the Mao-Chiang civil war. The Chiang regime
that we backed had fled to Taiwan in 1949 and it is still holed up
there now.
Then Mao kicked our arse in Korea.
Then Mao kicked our arse in Vietnam.
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