Unidentified balloon over Utah triggers US air defence, evokes memories of Chinese spy incidents

In a statement released by the NORAD command, they stated the object, which was akin to a small balloon, lacked the ability to manoeuvre and did not pose a security risk to the U.S, including its airspace.

NORAD command collaborated closely alongside the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) throughout the operation, reported NORAD spokesperson John Cornello. They are currently monitoring the flight of the unidentified balloon as they have yet to determine its origin.

Reports from American media recall an event from early February 2023, when US air forces intercepted and brought down a large Chinese spy balloon over South Carolina, which had been breaching U.S airspace for some duration.

The Pentagon voiced out that the balloon, which was traversing at an altitude generally inaccessible to commercial and research objects of this type, was utilised by China for espionage purposes. The decisive actions from the U.S drew protests from Beijing, as they asserted that it was a mere weather balloon that accidentally drifted into U.S airspace.

Media outlets have highlighted multiple instances of Chinese spy balloons infringing upon Taiwan's airspace.