
The Pentagon has just given a briefing on the Chinese spy balloon that is moving over the US.
They are continuing to monitor the balloon and says it poses no threat to civilians.
Here’s a few clips from the presser:
The suspected Chinese spy balloon seen over the U.S. “continues to move eastward,” Pentagon officials say, and that it “is currently over the center of the continental United States.” https://t.co/PFodmeiCpz pic.twitter.com/Va5buqrKVd
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) February 3, 2023
The Pentagon here says the balloon continues to move eastward over the CENTER of the continental US and they are continuing to monitor it. Last night I think it was over the NORTHERN part of the US.
Below, the Pentagon confirms that they know it IS a surveillance balloon despite what the Chinese government claims, but their spox wouldn’t elaborate any more on that.
In terms of whether people might try to interfere with the balloon, the Pentagon says it’s currently at about 60,000 feet which is well above where commercial aircraft fly. He acknowledges that civilian cameras and other instruments can see the balloon and says NORAD is closely monitoring it.
BREAKING: Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder provides an update on the Chinese spy balloon flying eastward over the United States. The Pentagon claims that the balloon poses a threat to people on the ground.
MORE: https://t.co/pE8gPDMVJW pic.twitter.com/aqvHRdE29u
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) February 3, 2023
As an aside the verbiage in the tweet is slightly wrong. The Pentagon says it poses NO threat to people on the ground.
The Pentagon confirms that shooting down the balloon was an option but because it poses no threat to people on the ground they did not do that and are continuing to monitor it.
Pentagon Spokesman says shooting down the Chinese spy balloon “was an option,” but for now they’re going to continue to “monitor and review options” pic.twitter.com/KzpggESqCn
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 3, 2023
The question was asked about the ability for the balloon to collect very sensitive information and the Pentagon pox says as soon as the balloon was detected they acted to prevent it from collecting sensitive info:
Pentagon Spokesman on Chinese spy balloon: “We acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information, and I will just leave it at that.” pic.twitter.com/iiuwRqgShd
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 3, 2023
Another question was asked if the position of the balloon is classified and if the public has a right to know it’s location. The Pentagon spox responded that people can certainly look up in the sky and see the balloon:
REPORTER: “Does the public not have the right to know…?”
PENTAGON: “The public certainly has the ability to look up in the sky and see where the balloon is.”pic.twitter.com/Dv3rbOVHMg
— The First (@TheFirstonTV) February 3, 2023
I would think we’d absolutely have a right to know and I guess we’ll have to depend on civilian equipment to know it’s location. In fact I would guarantee that there are plenty of civilians on the ground trying to track and photograph the balloon.
Lastly, the Pentagon says the balloon will be over the US for a few more days:
Pentagon says Chinese Spy Balloon will hover over the continental United States “for a few days.” pic.twitter.com/yWCzBR35KU
— The First (@TheFirstonTV) February 3, 2023