The Pentagon and U.S. intelligence were aware of a suspected Chinese spy balloon from the time it was launched off Hainan island south of China’s mainland, according to the Washington Post, citing unnamed officials, meaning the federal government was aware of the balloon almost a week earlier than they’ve publicly acknowledged.

The U.S. initially thought the balloon was headed for Guam, but officials were reportedly surprised when it took an abrupt and unexpected jog to the north over the Pacific Ocean.

The balloon first entered U.S. airspace over Alaska’s Aleutian Islands on January 28, then hovered through Canada and traversed the continental U.S. over the next several days before U.S. fighter jets shot it down off the coast of South Carolina on February 4.

Officials are now reviewing the possibility its course deviation was an accident, according to the Post, since the turn to the north seemed to coincide with a strong cold front that pushed through east Asia.

The U.S. still believes the Chinese government took advantage of the balloon’s North American deviation even if it wasn’t the plan, with officials telling the Post its path over a Montana nuclear weapons facility was intentional.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/news/u-s-tracked-spy-balloon-from-time-it-left-china-days-earlier-than-previously-known-report-says/ar-AA17uyuj?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=c7741f09dec34b43935766ccd69d4c00

So why didn't they shoot that balloon down over the Pacific ocean ?

panafrican:
So why didn't they shoot that balloon down over the Pacific ocean ?

#Jurisdiction

panafrican:
So why didn't they shoot that balloon down over the Pacific ocean ?

this question can never be answered

panafrican:
So why didn't they shoot that balloon down over the Pacific ocean ?

Americans are not foolish like the one in Kremlin so they waited for the right time to shoot it down.