Chinese Spy Balloons spotted over several countries, including India.

The
Chinese Spy Balloon which was shot down by the US military on Saturday has been
spotted in skies above countries across five continents, say US officials.
Although
China admitted the Spy Balloon was theirs but they claimed it was for
"civilian usage" and used for flight tests and the second balloon
which was spotted in Latin America, it accidentally entered the place citing
the aircraft's "limited maneuverability" and the weather conditions.
However,
US officials say they believe the balloon that was detected floating over the
U.S. was a Spy Balloon and China's intent to use it is for monitoring sensitive
military sites.
U.S.
officials have further briefed its friends and allies including India on the
"Surveillance balloon".
On
Monday, Deputy Secretary of the States, Wendy Sherman briefed officials from about 40
embassies about the Sky Balloon.
“The
surveillance balloon effort, which has operated for several years partly out of
Hainan province off China’s south coast, has collected information on military
assets in countries and areas of emerging strategic interest to China including
Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines,” reported The Washington
Post.
The
report was based on interviews with several anonymous defence and intelligence
officials.
While
the daily reported that officials have said these surveillance airships,
operated in part by the PLA (People's Liberation Army) air force, have been
spotted over five continents.
“These
balloons are all part of a PRC (People's Republic of China) fleet of balloons
developed to conduct surveillance operations, which also violated the
sovereignty of other countries,” a senior defence official was quoted as
saying.
The
daily also reported that in recent years, at least four balloons have been
spotted over Hawaii, Florida, Texas and Guam.
Three
of the four instances took place during the Trump administration but were only
recently identified as Chinese surveillance airships, it said.
Meanwhile, the recovery of the wreckage of the balloon is still on by US navy and coast guards, pictures of the same were released by the Pentagon on Tuesday.
Officials
described the balloon as being roughly 60m (200ft) tall and most likely
weighing 71st (1,000lbs).
This
incident has further led to the cancellation of US secretary Antony Blinken's
most anticipated visit to China which was supposed to be the first of its kind
since 2018.
It
had also sparked a diplomatic crisis between the two places.
Source- Sky News, The Hindu.
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