On Friday, former President Donald Trump suggested a simple course of action in a post on Truth Social on the Chinese surveillance balloon that was seen above Montana.
The Department of Defense is currently tracking a suspected high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon, which they believe is collecting data on sensitive U.S. sites in Montana, the home of Malmstrom Air Force Base where U.S. Minuteman III nuclear missiles are stored.
In response, Trump posted his opinion as to what the government should do about the situation, plainly suggesting that they “SHOOT DOWN THE BALLOON!”
On Thursday night, the DoD released a statement saying that the balloon “is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.”
“Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years,” the statement continued, not specifying when other such incidents allegedly took place. “Once the balloon was detected, the U.S. government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information.”
China initially responded on Friday morning, claiming that it was a weather balloon which blew off course over the continental U.S.
The country initially attempted to dodge responsibility for the balloon, later claiming ownership of a “civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes,” that accidentally “deviated far from its planned course.”
“The Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into U.S. airspace due to force majeure,” they added.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Friday at a briefing that “China is a responsible country and we always act in accordance with international law.” Mao added that they were launching an investigation into the origins of the balloon.
“We hope both sides can handle the matter together in a cool-headed and prudent manner,” said Mao.
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