I'm not a spy balloon expert but seems like a weird time for #China to launch this type of surveillance over the #US and #Canada, just days before US Sec of State Antony Blinken's visit to #Beijing. Maybe these balloons float around for ages? Any spy balloon experts out there?
#China's Foreign Ministry says it is attempting to verify details of the alleged surveillance balloon which the #US has said is Chinese. However Spokesperson Mao Ning said that hype and speculation were not conducive to a solution until the facts became clear.
And BTW, in this day and age, with satellites and other advanced aircraft, what do spy balloons bring to the table?
Here's a thread from someone who says he "knows too much about high-altitude balloons" with some interesting thoughts... #China #US #Balloons
https://twitter.com/TheKimulation/status/1544527308282896385?s=20&t=dqOzIcFag6s7Ovtx_sDmWQ
From John Blaxland, at the ANU, "it’s unlikely that the Chinese weren’t expecting to be caught: being caught was probably the goal". First reason the balloon was launched, he said, was to embarrass the US, all the better if it captured some intelligence? theguardian.com/world/2023/feb…
Another possibility, from Charles Parton at the RUSI, just now on @BBCWorld TV: #China's military has done this without co-ordination with other arms of government and could now be "getting it in the neck" from above. "What on earth are you doing" this close to Blinken's visit?
It would be interesting to know, on what basis, officials in the #US are able say that this is a spy balloon from #China.
BREAKING: Chinese govt says this is a weather balloon which has accidentally been blown a long way off its course and that it “regrets the unintended entry of the airship into #US airspace”.
#China's Foreign Ministry statement says that the balloon "used for research, mainly meteorological purposes" had been "affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability" had "deviated far from its planned course". #US
Reuters is reporting that #US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will postpone his trip to #Beijing because of tensions over the balloon. #China
Some #US officials denying claim from #Beijing that it’s a weather balloon + say there is another balloon from #China over Latin America.
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