The recent incidents involving the shooting down of a large Chinese balloon near the US coast and three smaller objects over Alaska, Canada, and Lake Huron have sparked security concerns in North America and worsened tensions with China.
Here is an update on what is known so far:
Details on the four objects:
The events started in late January with the shooting down of a large Chinese balloon, which American officials referred to as a spy craft, near the coast of South Carolina by an F-22 jet. The balloon had been drifting through US airspace for several days. China claimed that the balloon was being used for weather research and had merely strayed off course.
According to the Pentagon, the giant Chinese balloon had a gondola the size of three buses, equipped with multiple antennas, and large solar panels that could provide power to various intelligence-gathering sensors. It was also able to change its direction through wind or possibly through a propulsion system, as noted by officials.
On a different note, on a Friday, US fighter jets shot down another smaller object near northern Alaska. Officials stated that this object was much smaller than the Chinese balloon and lacked any sort of propulsion or control system.
On Saturday, a US F-22 jet, acting on instructions from both the US and Canada, shot down a “high-altitude airborne object” over the far northwest region of Yukon in Canada. This action was taken as the object posed a threat to civilian flight. Canada referred to the object as cylindrical in shape and about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle.
The following day, President Biden ordered US warplanes to shoot down yet another unidentified object over Lake Huron. This object was described as having an octagonal shape with strings hanging from it, and it posed a threat to civilian aviation as it was flying at an altitude of approximately 20,000 feet (6,000 meters).
According to the Pentagon, none of the four objects showed any signs of being armed or posed any threat of attack. Officials declined to comment on the origin or purpose of the three objects that followed the Chinese balloon. Only the balloon has been attributed to Beijing thus far.
As for what has been recovered, military teams are searching the shallow waters off South Carolina for the first object using planes, boats, and mini-submarines. Military imagery showed the retrieval of a large piece of the balloon, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation is taking possession of the debris for further analysis.
Efforts to recover the second object are still ongoing in the vicinity of Deadhorse, Alaska, despite challenging weather conditions, such as wind chill, snow, and limited daylight.
According to Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand, recovery teams are searching for debris from the third object in the Yukon region.
The Pentagon announced on Sunday that US and Canadian teams are preparing an operation to attempt to retrieve the fourth object.
What was the objects’ purpose?
According to US officials, the Chinese balloon was equipped with surveillance equipment that could intercept telecommunications and had flown over sensitive US nuclear missile sites. They stated that similar balloons had approached US territory at least four times in the past six years, but none had entered deep into US territory.
The balloons were believed to be part of a “fleet” operated by China, most likely the Chinese military, and were used to conduct surveillance on approximately 40 countries across five continents.
Speculation has been increasing regarding the purpose of the other objects. US Assistant Secretary of Defense Melissa Dalton indicated that public and private research organizations often launch their own research crafts into the atmosphere at these altitudes. However, after decades of investigating strange sightings reported by US military pilots that were classified as “UFOs,” officials are not ruling out the possibility that they could be the result of alien or extraterrestrial activity.
“I haven’t ruled out anything at this point,” said US Northern Command Commander General Glen VanHerck when asked about the possibility of extraterrestrial activity.
Why so many objects now?
Dalton stated that after the detection of the Chinese balloon, the US air defense made changes to its radar systems to better detect smaller and slower-moving objects in the atmosphere. Analysts have noted that US and Canadian intelligence agencies typically receive a large amount of raw data, which is usually screened and focused on detecting incoming missiles, not slow-moving objects like balloons.
After the radar adjustments, VanHerck stated that they are observing very small objects that produce a low radar cross section.
What’s the impact on US-China ties?
The downing of the Chinese balloon, followed by three other objects, has sparked security concerns and further strained the relationship between the United States and China. While the Chinese balloon is known to have been equipped with surveillance equipment, the purpose of the other objects remains unknown.
Despite speculation that they could be from research bodies or even extraterrestrials, officials have not ruled anything out. The detection of these objects could be due to adjustments made by US air defense to their radar systems, allowing for the detection of smaller and slower-moving objects in the atmosphere.
The US has canceled a visit from Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China and has imposed sanctions on six Chinese entities believed to be involved in military spy balloon programs. China has denounced the downing of the balloon, saying it violated international practice, and has reserved the right to respond to similar situations. US officials have had “contacts” with China regarding the balloon, but no further details were provided.