New Delhi: The military and intelligence agencies of the United States had been tracking for a week the now shot-down Chinese spy balloon that entered American airspace late last month, a report in The Washington Post suggests.
The US agencies had tracked the balloon as it “lifted off” from Hainan Island near China’s south coast, the American daily newspaper reported.
“US monitors watched as the balloon settled into a flight path that would appear to have taken it over the US territory of Guam. But somewhere along that easterly route, the craft took an unexpected northern turn,” the report added, attributing this to US officials.
Interestingly, the anonymous officials added that American agencies are now investigating the possibility that the spy apparatus perhaps did not intend to penetrate US airspace.
Given the intensifying US-China rivalry in the aftermath of the spy balloon incidents, this perhaps gives space for a ramp-off. Especially if the incident was an “accident,” as the new revelations add.
According to the sources, the balloon’s path before being shot down passed through Alaska, Canada, then entered mainland US, and finally South Carolina. “Strong winds seem to have pushed the balloon from Canada into the mainland US.”
Since the F-22 raptors shot down the Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina earlier this month, three more “flying objects” have also been shot down.
However, US officials also clarified that the three other flying objects “may not” have posed any threat.
These three unidentified objects were shot down off the coast of Alaska and Yukon in Canada, and an F-16 shot down another one over Lake Huron, Michigan in the US.
Significantly, the terminology for the flying apparatus has shifted from “balloon” to “object.” Air Force General Glen VanHerck, the head of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Northern Command, said, “We’re calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason.”
Essentially, this change in terminology comes as the officials are still unaware of the propulsion systems keeping the object afloat.
On the other hand, China has also accused the US of violating its airspace and sending aerial spy apparatus “regularly.” Beijing has accused Washington of sending spy balloons at least 10 times in the past year.
Also read: China’s balloons give Japan and Taiwan a reason to share intelligence, says lawmaker