The mystery has stoked public interest and frustration among lawmakers, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin telling reporters Monday that crews had yet to recover debris from the three most recent incidents.
Announcing a new interagency team to study these objects, the White House said Monday they posed no threat to people on the ground, sent no communication signals and had no maneuvering or propulsion capabilities.
The US military has been using a broader range of radar data as it monitors North American airspace, taking a deeper look at more objects it might have leaked in the past, the National Security Council spokesman said. John Kirby at the briefing.
While US officials refrained from jumping to conclusions, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a news conference Monday that “there’s kind of a pattern there.”
The recovery of the electronics from the first downed balloon came after Beijing accused the United States of flying balloons high over its airspace without permission more than 10 times since early last year.
“It is not uncommon for American balloons to illegally enter the airspace of other countries,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular press briefing on Monday.
“The United States should first reflect on itself and change course instead of smearing other countries,” he added.
