Second Chinese spy balloon spotted above Costa Rica: Pentagon

The Pentagon mentioned a second Chinese spy balloon has been noticed floating above Central America.

Brigadier-General Patrick Ryder confirmed particulars of the balloon seen above Costa Rica.

“We are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America,” Ryder mentioned.

The first Chinese spy balloon drifting over Columbia, Missouri. (AP)

“We now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon.”

The first balloon confirmed yesterday is at present working its manner throughout America, seen most not too long ago above Missouri, within the centre of the contiguous United States.

Thus far Joe Biden has not ordered the balloon to be shot down, citing the chance of a giant falling object over populated areas.

But the Pentagon mentioned that call might change as soon as the balloon is over a serious physique of water. That might not occur till it reaches the Atlantic Ocean.

“Right now, we assess that there is no threat, no physical threat or military threat, to people on the ground,” Ryder mentioned.

But the choice to not shoot the primary balloon down sooner is drawing the ire of politicians on either side of the aisle.

A high altitude balloon floats over Billings, Mont., on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. — The US is monitoring a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been noticed over US airspace for a pair days, however the Pentagon determined to not shoot it down as a result of dangers of hurt for individuals on the bottom, officers mentioned Thursday. (Larry Mayer/The Billings Gazette through AP)

“There’s no way the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) would allow a balloon like this to fly over the Chinese heartland,” mentioned Senate Intelligence Committee chair Mark Warner, a Democrat.

“China’s aggressive behaviour is a violation of international norms and shows a reckless disregard for the safety of American citizens.”

Republican Senator Steve Daines decried the White House for not capturing it down when it flew over his residence state of Montana.

“You’ve got higher odds of hitting a cow or a prairie dog or an antelope than you would of hitting any kind of a structure or a person,” he mentioned.

Politicians said the balloon should have been shot down over the very lightly populated state of Montana. — Politicians mentioned the balloon ought to have been shot down over the very evenly populated state of Montana. (AP)

China itself has admitted possession of the balloon however denied it was getting used for espionage functions.

“It is a civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes,” a press release from the overseas ministry learn.

“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 US airspace due to force majeure.”

That journey would have been the primary go to to China by a US Secretary of State in 5 years.