But according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the balloon followed a flight path, and the US did not give any credence to the Chinese argument that the balloon veered off course.
"What we also know is that it could maneuver; that it had propulsion capability and steerage capability and could slow down, speed up; and that it – it was on a path to transit over sensitive military sites,"Jean-Pierre said the White House is now talking to dozens of nations known to have been overflown by Chinese surveillance balloons. The State Department alleged that the balloon was part of a larger military-linked aerial surveillance program.
Another object was shot down on Friday as it flew over Alaska. The small-car-sized item lacked maneuverability and, according to the White House, posed a threat to civilian airspace as it drifted at roughly 40,000 feet. Jean-Pierre said the White House could not confirm if the object was a balloon or if it was China-linked.
"We don't know what entity owns this object. There's no indication that it's from a nation or an institution or an individual. We just don't know," said the press secretary. On each of Saturday and Sunday other objects that were flying and unidentified were taken out of the skies – one over Canada and another over Lake Huron. US authorities have stated they are monitoring for balloons with greater urgency. ®