1 of 1 Joe Biden during his speech on February 16, 2023 — Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Portal Joe Biden during his speech on February 16, 2023 — Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Portal
US President Joe Biden said there was no evidence that the last three aerial objects shot down in the country were Chinese spy balloons. (see below what is known about the four objects shot down by the US in February).
“There is currently nothing to suggest they were connected to China’s spy balloon program or that they were another country’s surveillance vehicles,” Biden said.
The President said it’s still not known exactly what the three objects are, but raised the possibility raised by American intelligence this week that they are owned by a private company to conduct research (many companies have objects found in operate at altitude, according to him).
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The military is in the process of recovering all three objects, and more information will be available when that happens, Biden said Thursday.
US congressmen have called for more information about the incidents, which have left many Americans perplexed. That was one of the reasons Biden made the statement this Thursday.
The president said one of the reasons the US spotted three unidentified flying objects was that after the appearance of the Chinese spy balloon earlier this month, US surveillance radars were reset to identify slowmoving objects in the sky.
The military, he said, acted within set parameters for US airspace. “I gave the order to drop the objects, they were a risk to aviation and surveillance,” he said.
“We acted with caution so we could bring the objects down safely,” Biden said.
The US recovers parts of the Chinese balloon shot down off the US coast ten days ago
Chinese balloon envelope
Biden spoke about the Chinese balloon that the US shot down on February 4th. He said he would speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the matter, but added, “I will not apologize for dropping the balloon.”
- Balloon and Unidentified Flying Objects: Understand what mobilized air forces around the world
- The US shoots a Chinese spy balloon into the sea
New Rules for Heaven
Biden has asked his advisors for an overview of all objects flying over US territory and to propose new rules on what can be taken to the sky in the country.
It also means safer skies for planes and people on the ground, he said.
Chinese balloon
The comments came amid reports that the suspected surveillance balloon, which was shot down on February 4 after crossing the US mainland, was originally on a trajectory that would have taken it over Guam and Hawaii, but downwind was blown away.
The balloon incident prompted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone a planned visit to Beijing, where both sides were trying to stabilize already strained relations.
Blinken’s appearance at this weekend’s Munich Security Conference has fueled speculation that he could meet China’s top diplomat Wang Yi there.
Biden has kept little public comment on the situation and has come under pressure from critics to speak more openly about the series of flybys.
What is known about dropped objects?
Thursday February 2nd: The Chinese Balloon
What was found and when?
- The first flying object identified by the US Air Force was a balloon: a structure with a white upper part and a technological device attached to the lower part.
- As reported by the Pentagon (US Defense Headquarters) on Thursday (2), the artifact flew over the state of Montana, but would have entered the country through Alaska and has already been on US territory for several days, where it is being monitored by the Air Force . .
- The object was shot down two days after the Pentagon statement on Saturday (4), sparking a diplomatic crisis between the US and China.
What is China’s answer?
- As soon as the US identified the balloon in its airspace, China claimed that it was nothing more than a technological device for meteorological research, which had been deflected off course by the winds and thus traveled to American territory.
- While the US government accused China of using the balloon for espionage purposes, officials from the Asian giant claimed the artifact had scientific purposes and expressed “strong dissatisfaction and protest at the US use of force to attack unmanned civilian aircraft”.
Friday February 10: UFO (unidentified flying object) over Alaska
The second apparition also took place in the United States in the state of Alaska. The object was knocked down by US forces on orders from President Joe Biden.
- In this case, however, there was still no official confirmation as to what the object would be or its provenance.
- What is known is that the artifact was flying at an altitude that made it a potential threat to civilian aircraft, that it was heading northeast, and that there were no signs that it could be piloted.
- Additionally, according to the US government, the object was the size of a small car unlike the Chinese balloon and there was no evidence it posed a military threat.
Saturday February 11th: UFO over Yukon, Canada
Another apparition took place on Saturday (11th) in the Yukon of northwestern Canada an area bordering Alaska. In this case, the order to dismantle the object was given by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“I have ordered the downing of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace,” he announced.
- The Prime Minister gave no further details as to what the object would be or what its trajectory or origin would be. However, he stated that the apparatus “poses a reasonable threat to the safety of civil flight”.
- Trudeau spoke to US President Joe Biden and assured that Canadian forces are already working to recover the wreckage for analysis.
- On Sunday (December 12), the airspace over Lake Michigan in the north of the USA and in a region near the border with Canada was closed by the American Civil Aviation Administration (FAA). The reason would have been “national defense”. The space was soon reopened.
Sunday February 12: UFO over Lake Huron, USA
Also on Sunday, the US military said it had shot down another flying object, this time over Lake Huron, near the USCanada border. It was the fourth such intercept by US warplanes this month.
The first information was released on Twitter by Representative Jack Bergman of the state of Michigan.
- Officials gave no details on the object’s last appearance and did not say whether the contraption was manoeuvrable or simply hovering on air currents.
- In an official statement, the Pentagon said the object was shot down at 2:42 p.m. Sunday by an F16 fighter jet at an altitude of 20,000 feet on orders from US President Joe Biden.
- According to the agency, although the object did not pose a military threat, it could have affected local air traffic and conducted surveillance activities.
- An armed forces official said the object had an octagonal structure with ropes hanging from it and it did not appear to be carrying any load.
- The object had recently been spotted over the state of Montana near US military areas, resulting in a temporary closure of airspace in the region.
- The object has not yet been located and, according to a US authority, must have fallen into waters belonging to Canadian sovereignty at the time it was shot down.
- Pentagon officials said they’ve been taking a closer look at the radar over the past few days and said they’re still not able to identify which objects have been recently found or how long they’ve been staying airborne.