US not flying any balloons over China, says White House

The assertion from the White House got here hours after China alleged that top altitude balloons had flown over its airspace with out permission greater than 10 occasions because the starting of 2022. 

New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 13, 2023 18:39 IST

A Chinese spy balloon lately floated over nuclear silos within the United States and was later shot down (Photo: Reuters)

By India Today Web Desk: The United States of America has stated that it’s not flying any spy balloons over China, information company AFP quoted the White House as saying. The assertion from the White House got here hours after China alleged that top altitude balloons had flown over its airspace with out permission greater than 10 occasions because the starting of 2022.

“Since last year, the U.S.’s high-altitude balloons have undergone more than 10 illegal flights into Chinese airspace without the approval of the relevant Chinese departments,” Chinese overseas ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated throughout a media briefing in Beijing.

ALSO READ | What is a spy balloon? The WW-II relic China has repurposed

On Sunday, the US stated that it shot down one other unidentified airborne object in its airspace, a day after it blew up an identical “cylindrical” object over Canada.

“An F-16 fighter jet, at the direction of President Joe Biden, fired an AIM9x to successfully shoot down the airborne object flying at approximately 20,000 feet altitude in US airspace over Lake Huron in the State of Michigan,” Pentagon Press Secretary Brig Gen Pat Ryder had stated.

However, Beijing has denied any data of the “airborne objects” that the US navy shot down in North American airspace.

ALSO READ | Dozens of Chinese navy balloons noticed in Taiwan’s airspace lately

According to US officers, the item was first noticed on Saturday over Montana, when it flew close to delicate navy websites.

US North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) stated it was not assessed “to be a kinetic military threat to anything on the ground,” however a security flight hazard and “a threat due to its potential surveillance capabilities.”

Published On:

Feb 13, 2023