A second suspected spy balloon believed to belong to China has been spotted over Latin America, the Pentagon confirmed Friday, according to multiple news reports.
It is not clear where in Latin America the balloon is flying, but it does not appear to be heading toward the United States, a U.S. defense official told CNN.“We are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America. We now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon," Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said.
News of the balloon comes a day after the Pentagon announced it was monitoring a balloon over Billings, Montana, that it had"very high confidence" belonged to China. The balloon is movable, and it is located about 60,000 feet above the U.S., Ryder said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled his trip to Beijing in light of the balloon revelation, which he claimed was a “clear violation of our sovereignty."
China has attempted to dismiss the balloon over the U.S. as a"civilian weather balloon," but U.S. intelligence officials have rejected that narrative, claiming they believe it is gathering surveillance. Ryder said the Pentagon believes the second balloon is also for surveillance.President Joe Biden was briefed on the initial balloon Tuesday, and he got additional updates from the Pentagon this week. Biden elected not to shoot the balloon down due to the risk of harming U.S. civilians.
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