Chinese balloon poses no threat to people on ground: Pentagon

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Feb 00:17

The US Pentagon assures that the Chinese balloon flying over the US poses no threat to people on the ground.

(Source: CNN)

Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said Friday that the Chinese research balloon that accidentally breached US airspace on Thursday poses no threat to people on the ground.

Ryder told a press conference that the balloon was a surveillance balloon, adding, "We do assess at this time that it does not pose a physical threat to people on the ground."

"Clearly, it is a balloon that has a payload underneath it… It's got a large payload – the surveillance component – underneath the actual balloon piece of it."

Ryder added that the balloon was expected to hover over the US for several more days. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is continuing to track it.

At present time, shooting down the balloon may injure civilians or damage property, Ryder said, noting that it was currently around 60,000 feet above the ground, specifically above the zone where civilian aircraft operate.

Ryder also noted that the balloon was maneuverable.

On Thursday, the Pentagon said it was tracking a Chinese 'spy' balloon flying high over the US, sparking a wave of panic across the country.

A senior defense official told reporters that at US President Joe Biden's request, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and top military officials considered shooting the balloon down but decided that doing so would endanger too many people on the ground.

"Clearly, the intent of this balloon is for surveillance," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, considered.

Earlier today, Beijing's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said via a spokesperson that China regretted the unintended breach of US airspace.

The spokesperson said that the device had strayed away from its planned course due to force majeure.

"The airship is from China," the statement reads. "It is a civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes."

"Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course. The Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into the US airspace due to force majeure," said the spokesperson.