Spy balloon – live: US was tracking Chinese balloon for almost a week before it entered American airspace
The Washington Post has now reported that US intelligence agencies were monitoring the balloon as soon as it left its base on Hainan Island and began charting its flight path to the US territory of Guam.
The craft veered off course along the route, taking it over Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, Canada and Montana, before it was shot down off the coast of South Carolina.
Officials told the paper they are exploring the possibility that it was indeed an accident for China to fly over North American airspace.
The revelation comes as the White House announced on Tuesday that the three other objects shot down by American fighter jets were likely used for commercial or other “benign” purposes.
Key points
- US tracked Chinese spy balloon since it left Hainan Island – a week before entering airspace
- White House says three unidentified objects believed to be ‘benign’
- Republicans use balloon incident to attack Biden as they call on president to hold national address
- US military says it has recovered ‘significant’ electronics from downed Chinese ‘spy’ balloon
- China accuses US of ‘illegally’ flying spy balloons into airspace
- US military takes down fourth object in a month – this time above Lake Huron
