Officials in Beijing say a Chinese balloon found flying over the United States is a "civilian airship" mainly used for weather research.
On Friday, a foreign ministry spokesperson said the balloon had deviated far off course, citing winds and "limited self-steering capability".
The spokesperson said the Chinese side regrets the unintended entry into US airspace, adding that Beijing will stay in communication with Washington.
The US Defense Department said on Thursday that the government had been tracking a surveillance balloon at an altitude well above commercial air traffic.
Pentagon officials said it appears to be a Chinese spy balloon.
US authorities say they have conveyed to the Chinese side how seriously they take the issue.
On Friday, a foreign ministry spokesperson said the balloon had deviated far off course, citing winds and "limited self-steering capability".
The spokesperson said the Chinese side regrets the unintended entry into US airspace, adding that Beijing will stay in communication with Washington.
The US Defense Department said on Thursday that the government had been tracking a surveillance balloon at an altitude well above commercial air traffic.
Pentagon officials said it appears to be a Chinese spy balloon.
US authorities say they have conveyed to the Chinese side how seriously they take the issue.
Similar Readings (5 items)
China maintains spy balloon is civilian, claims some in US 'have hyped it up to attack and smear China'
China protests US downing of balloon
China says US has sent over 10 high-altitude balloons illegally into Chinese airspace since last year
Japan protests to China over suspected spy balloons
Pentagon releases photos of Chinese balloon debris retrieval
Summary
Chinese balloon over US: Beijing claims civilian airship for weather research, deviated off course due to winds and limited self-steering capability. US Defense Department considers it a potential spy balloon; communication between China and US continues regarding the matter. US authorities
Statistics
115
Words1
Read CountDetails
ID: 34263900-c2e7-4eec-811b-bc464d97f6ec
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230204_04/
Date: Feb. 4, 2023
Created: 2023/02/06 07:25
Updated: 2025/12/09 07:50
Last Read: 2023/02/06 07:26