In a media briefing, Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck said that as the Chinese surveillance balloon approached Alaska, he assessed that it did not pose a “physical military threat” to North America.
A high-altitude Chinese balloon floats over Columbia, Mo., on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.
WASHINGTON — As questions persist about the Chinese surveillance balloon’s journey across Alaska, a top military general provided some details Monday about why the balloon was able to enter the state., Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, said that as the balloon approached Alaska, he assessed that it did not pose a “physical military threat” to North America.
“And therefore, I could not take immediate action because it was not demonstrating hostile act or hostile intent,” said VanHerck, who leads the North American Aerospace Defense Command. “From there, certainly, provided information on the status of the whereabouts of the balloon,” VanHerck said.The Chinese surveillance balloon traveled across Alaska, but questions about its exact path remain unansweredThe balloon entered the U.S. Air Defense Identification Zone north of the Aleutian Islands on Jan. 28 and entered Canadian airspace on Jan. 30, according to the Department of Defense.
Military officials said shooting the balloon over land would have posed a threat to civilians. The Pentagon
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