US military monitors unidentified high-altitude balloon over western states

US officials confirm tracking of an unidentified high-altitude balloon over the Western States, recalling last year’s similar Chinese balloon incident

The U.S. military is currently tracking a high-altitude balloon detected over the Western United States, as confirmed by officials to CBS News.

The balloon, spotted initially over Colorado and drifting eastward, has been deemed non-threatening, though its origins and purpose remain unknown.

This incident occurs approximately one year after a high-profile situation involving a Chinese balloon. In February 2023, a balloon believed to be used for Chinese intelligence purposes traversed the U.S. before being shot down off the South Carolina coast.

The Chinese government claimed the balloon was intended for weather data collection and had strayed off course. This event escalated U.S.-China tensions, leading to intense political debate and the postponement of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Beijing.

In a subsequent analysis, the Pentagon determined that the 2023 balloon did not transmit information back to China. However, its presence prompted the U.S. military to shoot down several unidentified objects in the following weeks, attributed to benign activities by private companies and research institutions.

The current balloon’s detection, reported by CBS and confirmed by the Independent, comes without a definitive statement from the U.S. military. The Pentagon has yet to issue a public response.

Source: Newsroom