China declared on Friday that it is looking into reports that a Chinese spy balloon has been flying in U.S. airspace and asked for people to remain calm. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also said that China has no intention of infringing on the territory or airspace of any sovereign country. She also said that she had no information regarding whether the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China next week will go ahead as planned. Mao said that people should not jump to conclusions until they have a clear understanding of the facts about the balloon reports. Blinken's visit would be the highest-ranking member of President Joe Biden's administration to visit China, as the two countries are attempting to improve their relations which have been strained due to trade, Taiwan, human rights and China's claims in the South China Sea. Mao said that China is a responsible country and always follows international laws. She also said that they are looking into the situation and hope that both sides can handle it together calmly and carefully. A senior defense official said that the U.S. has a high level of confidence that the object was a Chinese high-altitude balloon and was collecting information over sensitive sites. The balloon was spotted over Montana, which is home to one of America's three nuclear missile silo fields. The official said that the balloon is currently flying at an altitude higher than commercial air traffic and does not pose a physical threat to people on the ground. President Biden was briefed and asked the military to present options. The U.S. has communicated the seriousness of the matter to Chinese officials. The senior defense official said that the U.S. prepared fighter jets, including F-22s, to shoot down the balloon if ordered, but the Pentagon ultimately recommended against it due to the risk to people on the ground. A photograph of a large white balloon was captured by The Billings Gazette. The balloon was seen drifting in and out of clouds and had a solar array hanging from the bottom. This has added to the security concerns among lawmakers over China's influence in the U.S. Tensions between the two countries are high due to numerous issues. It is not clear what will happen with the balloon if it is not brought down. The defense official said that the spy balloon had limited value in terms of providing intelligence. All air traffic was halted at Montana's Billings Logan International Airport for two hours on Wednesday. Chase Doak said he saw a big white circle in the sky from his office window and thought it was a UFO.
This Cyber News was published on www.securityweek.com. Publication date: Fri, 03 Feb 2023 12:18:02 +0000