China has asked the US to remain “cool headed” after a a surveillance balloon was seen flying over American territory’s sensitive military facilities in Montana and in Canada.
Chinese foreign spokesperson has said that Beijing has “no intention to violate other countries’ sovereignty and airspace”
“We are gathering and verifying the facts. We hope the relevant parties will handle the matter in a cool-headed way,” foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.
The US military and Canada confirmed spotting a high-altitude surveillance balloon today morning and said that its movements are being actively tracked.
The spy balloon, which is the size of three buses, was spotted over Billings, Montana, on Wednesday. It entered the US after flying in over the Aleutian Islands and made its way through Canada.
Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said that the US has so far decided against shooting down the surveillance balloon.
Washington has “very high confidence” it is a Chinese high-altitude balloon and it was flying over sensitive sites to collect information, a senior defence official said.
