A suspected Chinese spy balloon that may have spent time in Canadian airspace before moving above America is still up there, according to federal officials.
China confirmed ownership of the balloon, but said it entered North American airspaces accidentally.
A resident south of the border in Montana captured the balloon on his Twitter account.
Chase Doak was on his driveway in Billings, Montana when he captured video footage of the large white balloon, saying “I have no idea what it is. It’s been here stationary for the last 35 minutes.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning addressed the balloon on Friday, but said it is used for meteorological purposes.
“China is a responsible country that has always strictly abided by international laws,” she said in a press conference. “It has no intention of violating the territory and airspace of a sovereign country.”
The Pentagon advised against shooting the balloon down, because of the risks of debris hurting civilians on the ground.
Canada’s Department of National Defence is tracking the balloon’s movements and working with American partners. They are looking into if the balloon entered Canadian airspace, but say Canadians are safe.
“Canadians are safe and Canada is taking steps to ensure the security of its airspace, including the monitoring of a potential second incident,” the department said in a press release. “NORAD, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defence, and other partners have been assessing the situation and working in close coordination.”
The department says it’s also monitoring a second potential incident.
China’s ambassador to Canada was called in Thursday, according to Global Affairs Canada.
The discovery has put even more strain on American-Chinese relations.
Amid the growing tensions, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed his visit to China next week, which was planned before the balloon’s discovery.
