Chinese spy balloon: 3 fast facts on what to know

The U.S. is monitoring a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been noticed flying throughout the north and central U.S. It was seen on Feb. 2 over Montana, and was headed towards the central U.S. on Feb. 3.

A Feb. 2 tweet from an account that tweets news content material mentioned the balloon seen over Billings, Montana, was the dimensions of three buses. A video of the balloon had greater than 5 million views. 

A Reddit post additionally confirmed the suspected trajectory of the Chinese “spy balloon.” 

VERIFY viewers Angie and Barbara texted and requested us in regards to the balloon. Here is what we know thus far.

Sign up for the VERIFY Fast Facts each day Newsletter!

1. The Pentagon says the balloon hasn’t been shot down as a result of it’s not a risk

Current and former U.S. politicians have referred to as for the balloon to be shot from the sky. 

But throughout a Feb. 3 press convention, Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said if officials shot the balloon down, particles from the balloon might be dangerous to folks on the bottom and will end in property harm. As of Feb. 3, the balloon was flying at 60,000 ft, which is above business airspace.

Ryder mentioned the balloon doesn’t current a army or bodily risk to folks on the bottom.  NORAD, which is monitoring the balloon, agreed. 

When requested if the balloon could be shot down as soon as it’s over the ocean and out of U.S. airspace, Ryder mentioned: “Right now, we assess that there is no threat — a physical threat or military threat — to people on the ground.  So we’re continuing to monitor, you know, and we’ll just leave it at that.” 

2. China confirmed it’s their balloon however denied it’s for spying

A senior protection official with the Pentagon told reporters on Feb. 2 that the balloon was flying over “sensitive” army websites to acquire information. However, the People’s Republic of China denied these allegations.

In a Chinese Foreign Ministry assertion, the Chinese authorities confirmed possession of the balloon, however mentioned it’s getting used for “research, mainly meteorological, purposes.”

“Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course. The Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into U.S. airspace due to force majeure [unforeseeable circumstances]. The Chinese side will continue communicating with the U.S. side and properly handle this unexpected situation caused by force majeure,” the assertion mentioned.

When requested about China’s declare that the balloon is a climate balloon, not a spy balloon, Ryder mentioned the U.S. authorities is conscious of the assertion. 

“The fact is we know that it’s a surveillance balloon, and I’m not going to be able to be more specific than that. And we do know that the balloon has violated U.S. airspace and international law, which is unacceptable. And so we’ve conveyed this directly to the PRC at multiple levels,” Ryder said during the Feb. 3 press conference.

Weather specialists told the Associated Press China’s declare that the balloon had gone off track was possible.  

3. The Pentagon says this isn’t the primary time a balloon like this has flown over the U.S.

A senior protection official with the Pentagon mentioned “balloons of this nature” have flown over the U.S. “a handful of other times over the past few years,” together with earlier than the Biden administration.

What’s completely different about this balloon is how lengthy it’s been over U.S. airspace. 

“It is appearing to hang out for a long period of time this time around, more persistent than in previous instances. So that would be one distinguishing factor,” the protection official instructed reporters.

During the Feb. 3 news convention, Ryder instructed reporters the situations of these different balloons flying into U.S. airspace are labeled. 

“I’m not able to provide it other than I can confirm that there have been other incidents where balloons did come close to or cross over U.S. territory,” Ryder mentioned.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.