China says balloon flying over Montana is not spycraft, while US officials figure out how to best get rid of it
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Large white balloon lingers over Montana sky
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WASHINGTON – China denied Friday that a balloon flying over the United States is a spycraft but a “civilian airship” that blew off course.
The air ship is used for meteorological and other research, the Chinese government said in a statement in which it expressed regret for its “unintended entry” into U.S. airspace.
U.S. officials maintain that it is a Chinese spy balloon and have considered shooting it down.
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Shooting it down poses too high a risk to people and property from debris, two U.S. officials said Friday. Other options are being explored, according to the officials who were not authorized to speak publicly.
The Pentagon said Thursday it had spotted what it called a spy balloon drifting over the northern United States. President Joe Biden was briefed on military options but officials decided against taking military action. F-22 fighter jets, the most advanced warplane in the Pentagon’s arsenal, were sent to observe the balloon.
It had been flying over Montana where the Pentagon has nuclear missile silos.
The incident comes at a time of rising tension between the superpowers. Although the trip had not officially been announced, Secretary of State Antony Blinken had been expected to travel to China over the next few days.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: China says balloon flying over Montana is not spycraft, while US officials figure out how to best get rid of it