Canada supports U.S. decision to shoot down suspected Chinese spy balloon, Anand says
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said the balloon was a civilian airship used mainly for meteorological research that “deviated far from its planned course” because of winds.Anand noted Saturday that Norad, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, had been “tracking and analyzing the trajectory and actions” of the balloon.
“The co-operation between Canada and the United States through Norad ensures the security and defense of North American air sovereignty, and we thank its members for having the watch,” she said.Pentagon officials have said one of the places the balloon was spotted was over the state of Montana, which is home to one of America’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement the decision to shoot down the balloon “safely” over U.S. waters was “taken in coordination, and with the full support, of the Canadian government.” “And we thank Canada for its contribution to tracking and analysis of the balloon through Norad as it transited North America,” Austin said in the statement.Global Affairs Canada said Friday that officials summoned Chinese Ambassador Cong Peiwu to express disapproval over the balloon.
U.S. officials also announced Secretary of State Antony Blinken was postponing a planned high-stakes weekend diplomatic trip to China.
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