REPORT: Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon Flew “Through Canada” Into Northern United States

InsightSpencerFernando

The U.S. Military is now tracking the suspected surveillance balloon.

UPDATE: A clearer image of the spy balloon:

UPDATE #2: U.S. summons Chinese diplomat over spy balloon:

The United States is tracking what is being described as a suspected spy balloon from Communist China.

““The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now,” Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told NBC News. “We continue to track and monitor it closely.”

“Once the balloon was detected, the U.S. government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information,” Ryder said.”

Reports indicate that officials believe the spy balloon travelled over Canada in order to reach the United States:

“The high-altitude balloon was spotted over Billings, Montana, on Wednesday. It flew over the Aleutian Islands, through Canada, and into Montana. A senior defense official said the balloon is still over the U.S. but declined to say where it is now. “

Notably, Montana is where some of the U.S. nuclear missile silos are located.

Officials indicate the use of a spy balloon is not unprecedented, but that the balloon has been operating for a longer duration than usual.

Additionally, officials indicated that steps are being taken to protect against sensitive information being collected:

“Currently we assess that this balloon has limited additive value from an intelligence collection perspective over and above what the PRC can do through other means,” the senior defense official said. “Nevertheless we are taking all necessary steps to protect against foreign intelligence collection of sensitive information.”

“We are tracking it in minute detail in real time and we will constantly update our assessment,” the official said. “We are in constant surveillance of this thing through a bunch of different means.””

F-22 Raptors and AWACs were sent, and shooting down the balloon remains an option.

As the United States provides significant information on the spy balloon, there seems to be little discussion in Canada:

“Ummm…

“It flew from the Aleutian Islands, through ***Canada***, and into Montana.”

The US Gov has provided a briefing. Has the Canadian Gov? A surveillance balloon flying thru Canada!?!”

As Josh Ryan noted on Twitter, it seems that it took the U.S. to tell us that a Chinese spy balloon had flown over our own territory.

https://twitter.com/joshryanjames/status/1621298236701949952

While this is of course just speculation, it would not at all be surprising to find that Canada’s ability to monitor our own territory has significantly eroded due to the moribund state of our national defenses.

Likely, the United States has had to pick up the slack.

This should be another wakeup call that – whether people want to acknowledge it or not – we are in a new Cold War and a strong national defense is a necessity, not a luxury.

Spencer Fernando

Photo – YouTube