The US is on the lookout for a possible Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted flying over sensitive sites in recent days.The balloon was most recently seen above the western state of Montana and defense officials are confident it belongs to China. The military decided not to shoot it down in case debris fell on it. China warned against speculation until the facts are verified. The balloon flew over Alaska's Aleutian Islands and through Canada before appearing over Billings in Montana on Wednesday. Fighter jets, including F-22s, were on standby in case the White House directed that the object be shot down. The US and Canada are working together to safeguard sensitive information from foreign intelligence threats. Top military leaders, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, met to assess the threat. Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana is home to one of the country's only three nuclear missile silo fields, and it is believed the balloon was flying over it. sensitive sites to collect information. The military advised against taking action due to the danger of falling debris. The balloon is described as "sizeable" but there is no significantly enhanced threat of US intelligence being compromised, as American officials know its location. The balloon is unlikely to provide much more information than what China can already gather through satellites. has raised the matter with Chinese officials in Washington D.C. and Beijing. China is attempting to verify the reports and warns against speculation until the facts are clear.
The United States has confirmed the presence of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon flying over sensitive sites. Defense officials believe the high-altitude balloon is of Chinese origin, with its most recent sighting reported over Montana. Although fighter jets, including F-22s, were prepared in case the White House ordered the balloon to be shot down, military leaders advised against such action due to the potential danger posed by falling debris. Montana, home to one of only three nuclear missile silo fields in the country, is believed to be a target for information collection. The balloon is described as "sizeable" with reports of pilots being able to see it from a distance. The defense department has stated there is no significantly enhanced threat of US intelligence being compromised and no threat to civilian aviation as the balloon is significantly above commercial airline altitudes. China has warned against speculation and is currently attempting to verify the reports. Canada is also monitoring a potential second incident involving a surveillance balloon. The US has raised the matter with Chinese officials in Washington DC and Beijing.
Points are given below:-
- Montana is home to one of only three nuclear missile silo fields in the US at the Malmstrom Air Force Base.
- The US military has confirmed the presence of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon flying over sensitive sites in Montana.
- Military leaders advised against shooting the balloon down due to potential danger posed by falling debris.
- The balloon is described as "sizeable" and visible to pilots from a distance.
- The defense department states that there is no significantly enhanced threat to US intelligence or civilian aviation as the balloon is flying above commercial airline altitudes.
- The information collected by the balloon is unlikely to provide more information than China can already gather using satellites.
- The US has raised the matter with Chinese officials in Washington DC and Beijing.
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