“Chinese were caught lying”: new objects probably also shot down balloons US promises money for protection of the Amazon – the most important in 3 points

According to leading US Democrat Chuck Schumer, the two most recently shot down flying objects over North America are also likely balloons. The Democratic Senate Majority Leader told ABC Television on Sunday that the president’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, briefed him Saturday on the current state of knowledge. And it is currently believed that the two flying objects shot down on Friday and Saturday were also balloons, “but much smaller than the first,” Schumer said.

US fighter jets shot down two unidentified flying objects on Friday and Saturday: one off the coast of Alaska, the other over northern Canada. Details about the two objects are so far unclear – also and especially their origin and their purpose. The recovery of the remains of the flying objects should provide information.

The incidents were reminiscent of a Chinese balloon suspected of being used for espionage purposes that the US Air Force had downed off the coast of South Carolina a week earlier. But it was unclear if there was a connection.

The US government accuses China of using the observation balloon to spy on military installations. Beijing, on the other hand, spoke of a civilian research balloon that had gone off course. The US State Department accused China of conducting an extensive international surveillance program and using a fleet of spy balloons to attack more than 40 countries on five continents. Beijing denies the allegations, accusing the US government of waging an “information war” over the espionage allegations. The dispute has added tension to the already tense relationship between the two countries.

Referring to the suspected spy balloon from China, Schumer said, “The Chinese were humiliated. (…) The Chinese were caught lying. And I think that’s a real step backwards for them.” He assumes they will have to stop their surveillance program or do something else after they blow up. “Because they look really bad.” (aeg/sda/dpa)