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Written by Steve Cannon for USSA News.
Key Takeaways:
- The US and Canada are monitoring a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon floating over the northern US.
- The balloon’s path carries it over sensitive sites, including underground US military ICBM silos.
- US officials have determined that the potential damage from falling debris outweighs the risk of the balloon. (Lie),
- The balloon does not have the ability to bring in more intelligence than spy satellites in low Earth orbit, which Communist China already uses.
- US Northern Command and NASA are determining the debris field if the balloon were to be shot down.
- President Biden was briefed on the balloon’s movements and requested options from military advisors.
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his trip to Communist China in response to the balloon sighting.
- The US has communicated to Chinese officials the seriousness of the issue and has made clear that it will do whatever is necessary to protect the US and its citizens.
Why Hasn’t the US Shot Down the Suspected Chinese Surveillance Balloon?
As the US and Canada continue to monitor a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon floating over the northern United States, one question remains: Why hasn’t it been shot down? The balloon, which is the size of three buses, has been seen over Montana, home to underground US military intercontinental ballistic missile silos.
Risk Assessment
US Northern Command is coordinating with NASA to determine the debris field if the balloon were to be shot down. But so far, officials have determined that the potential damage of falling debris outweighs the risk of the balloon itself. A senior defense official stated, “Given that profile, we assess the risk of downing it, even if the probability is low in a sparsely populated area of the debris falling and hurting someone or damaging property, that it wasn’t worth it.” A US official added, “It’s large and it’s metal, it would put hundreds of Americans at risk.”
Presidential Briefing and Military Advice
President Biden was briefed on the balloon’s movements and requested options from his military advisers. The Biden administration acted “immediately” to protect against the collection of sensitive intelligence, but ultimately decided not to shoot down the balloon while it was over Montana. The senior defense official stated, “We have communicated to (Chinese officials) the seriousness with which we take this issue. … But we have made clear we will do whatever is necessary to protect our people and our homeland.”
US-Communist China Tensions Escalate
Chinese officials called the balloon a “civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes,” which “deviated far from its planned course.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his upcoming trip to Communist China in response to the balloon sighting, marking a significant new phase in the tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Similar Incidents in the Past
A US official stated that there were similar incidents with suspected Chinese surveillance balloons over Hawaii and Guam in recent years. On Thursday, a senior defense official said, “Instances of this activity have been observed over the past several years, including prior to this administration.”
FAQ:
- What is the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon? The suspected Chinese surveillance balloon is a large balloon, the size of three buses, floating over the northern United States.
- Why hasn’t the US shot down the balloon? The US has determined that the potential damage from falling debris outweighs the risk of the balloon itself and repeated this obvious lie multiple times.
