Topline
The Pentagon and U.S. intelligence were aware of a suspected Chinese spy balloon from the time it was launched off Hainan island south of China’s mainland, according to the Washington Post, citing unnamed officials, meaning the federal government was aware of the balloon almost a week earlier than they’ve publicly acknowledged.
In this U.S. Navy handout, sailors assigned to Assault Craft Unit 4 prepare material recovered in … [+]
Key Facts
The U.S. initially thought the balloon was headed for Guam, but officials were reportedly surprised when it took an abrupt and unexpected jog to the north over the Pacific Ocean.
The balloon first entered U.S. airspace over Alaska’s Aleutian Islands on January 28, then hovered through Canada and traversed the continental U.S. over the next several days before U.S. fighter jets shot it down off the coast of South Carolina on February 4.
Officials are now reviewing the possibility its course deviation was an accident, according to the Post, since the turn to the north seemed to coincide with a strong cold front that pushed through east Asia.
The U.S. still believes the Chinese government took advantage of the balloon’s North American deviation even if it wasn’t the plan, with officials telling the Post its path over a Montana nuclear weapons facility was intentional.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.
Key Background
The Pentagon recently said it recovered “significant debris” from the balloon’s remains, including “all of the priority sensors and electronics pieces as well as large sections of the structure,” which officials say was roughly the size of three buses. American officials have connected the balloon to a broader Chinese balloon surveillance program, but have claimed the recent balloon posed no imminent security threat and likely did not supply Beijing with intelligence beyond what its satellites could detect. In any case, President Joe Biden has faced immense criticism for not shooting the balloon down before it crossed the continental U.S., where it was viewable in large metropolitan areas like Kansas City, St. Louis and Charlotte, North Carolina. Top officials have repeatedly said the president decided not to shoot it down earlier due to the threat of casualties on the ground. China has claimed the balloon was a civilian aircraft that was blown off course, while it accused the U.S. of sending at least 10 balloons over China this year—assertions the Pentagon has denied.
News Peg
American fighters shot down three additional unidentified objects between Friday and Sunday. Few details have been released, prompting immense speculation about what the objects may be and where they came from, but the White House said Tuesday there is “no indication” they were additional Chinese spy balloons. White House press secretary ruled out another popular theory at a news conference Monday, saying, “There is no indication of alien or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns.”
Further Reading
U.S. tracked China spy balloon from launch on Hainan Island along unusual path (Washington Post)
Where Is The Chinese Spy Balloon? Reports Say It Moved Over St. Louis Area (Forbes)
U.S. Shoots Down Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon Over Atlantic (Forbes)
U.S. Recovers ‘Sensors And Electronics’ From China’s Balloon—Other Vessels Still A Mystery (Forbes)
Everything We Know About The Chinese Balloon—And 3 Other Objects— Shot Down By The U.S. (Updated) (Forbes)
‘No Indication’ Three Recent Flying Objects Shot Down Were Chinese Spy Balloons, White House Says (Forbes)
Aliens Weren’t Behind Most Recent Flying Objects, White House Says—But Still Unclear Who Was (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/02/14/us-tracked-spy-balloon-from-time-it-left-china-days-earlier-than-previously-known-report-says/