Chinese spy balloon - The African Mirror

Feb

2023

U.S. may target Chinese entities linked to spy balloon

HUMEYRA PAMUK, MICHAEL MARTINA and PATRICIA ZENGERLE THE United States will explore taking action against entities connected to China's military that supported the flight of a Chinese spy balloon into U.S. airspace last week, a senior State Department official said. Washington is confident that the manufacturer of the Chinese balloon, shot down by the U.S. military last weekend off the U.S. East Coast, has a "direct relationship" with the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the official said in a statement. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre echoed the notion that Washington would look at taking action, but the U.S. government has not…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

FBI says Chinese balloon analysis effort is in early stages

WORLD

THE FBI has only recovered very limited physical evidence from a suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down into the ocean on Saturday, and it has not yet been able to get enough information to assess its capabilities, senior bureau officials familiar with the operation said. "It's very early for us in this process, and the evidence that has been recovered and brought to the FBI is extremely limited," one of the officials told reporters in a briefing about its role in processing the wreckage of the balloon. Officials said the FBI still did not have access to the majority of…

Feb

2023

By DAVID SHEPARDSON, JEFF MASON and YEW LUN TIAN

U.S. seeks Chinese balloon remnants, says approach to China will stay calm

WORLD

THE U.S. Coast Guard imposed a temporary security zone in waters off South Carolina during the military's search for debris from a suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down by a U.S. fighter jet, and the White House said it would keep a calm approach to relations with Beijing. President Joe Biden told reporters it was always his view that the balloon needed to be shot down and brushed off a question about whether the incident would weaken U.S-China relations. "No. We made it clear to China what we're going to do," he said. "They understand our position. We're not going to back…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

U.S. fighter jet shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon

WORLD

RANDALL HILL, PHIL STEWART and JEFF MASON A U.S. military fighter jet shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina, a week after it first entered U.S. airspace and triggered a dramatic -- and public -- spying saga that worsened Sino-U.S. relations. President Joe Biden said he had issued an order on Wednesday to take down the balloon, but the Pentagon had recommended waiting until it could be done over open water to safeguard civilians from debris crashing to Earth from thousands of feet (meters) above commercial air traffic. "They successfully took it down, and…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

Chinese spy balloon flies over the United States: Pentagon

WORLD

IDREES ALI and PHIL STEWART A Chinese spy balloon has been flying over the United States for a couple of days, U.S. officials said, in what would be a brazen act just days ahead of a planned trip to Beijing by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Fighter jets were mobilized, but military leaders advised President Joe Biden against shooting the balloon out of the sky for fear debris could pose a safety threat, advice Biden accepted, U.S. officials said. The United States took "custody" of the balloon when it entered U.S. airspace and had observed it with piloted U.S.…