Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses a press conference
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)“Spy balloons” shot down over the US in the last week are part of a pattern of surveillance by China and Russia, Nato’s secretary general has warned.
US military fighter jets on Sunday shot down an octagonal object over Lake Huron, the Pentagon said - the latest incident since a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon put North American security forces on high alert.
It was the fourth flying object to be shot down over North America by a US missile in a little more than a week.
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday the incidents form part of a pattern which highlights the need for the organisation to be vigilant.
“What we saw over the United States is part of a pattern where China and also Russia are increasing surveillance activities on Nato allies,” he said.
China’s foreign ministry said it had no information on the latest three flying objects shot down by the United States.
Rishi Sunak on Monday said fighter jets are on standby to be launched within minutes in Britain, to shoot down Chinese spy balloons if they are flown over the country.
The Prime Minister stressed the UK would not tolerate such espionage missions after four high altitude objects were blown out the skies by America.
Mr Sunak said: “I want people to know that we will do everything it takes to keep the country safe.
“We have something called the Quick Reaction Alert Force which involves Typhoon planes which are kept on 24/7 readiness to police our air space.”
Earlier, a Government minister said China may have previously launched spy balloons over Britain.
UK transport minister Richard Holden stressed China was a “hostile state” and that the UK needed to be “robust” in its response to Beijing’s actions.
Asked if China may have carried out espionage missions over the UK, Mr Holden told Sky News: “It’s possible. It’s also possible and I would think likely that there would be people from the Chinese government trying to act as a hostile state.
“The Government is concerned about what is going on, concerned about influence more broadly of some states.”
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has ordered a security review following the incidents in the US.
