The suspected Chinese spy balloon traveling over the U.S. has drifted out of Montana, crossed over several states — including Kansas — and is now reportedly flying over Missouri.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) confirmed that the balloon had crossed into Kansas airspace by Friday midmorning.
“I can confirm the Chinese spy ballon is over NE KS,” Marshall said. “My staff is in contact with law enforcement officials. I condemn any attempts the Chinese make to spy on Americans. President Biden must protect the sovereignty of the U.S. whether it’s our airspace or the southern border.”
The National Weather Service in Kansas City, Missouri, said in a statement a large balloon had crossed into northwestern Missouri.
“We have had several reports across northwest MO of a large balloon visible on the horizon,” the statement, which included photos, said. “It is now visible from our office in Pleasant Hill and the KC Metro. We have confirmed that it is not an NWS weather balloon.”
We have had several reports across northwest MO of a large balloon visible on the horizon. It is now visible from our office in Pleasant Hill and the KC Metro. We have confirmed that it is not an NWS weather balloon. pic.twitter.com/CKQWOw7God
— NWS Kansas City (@NWSKansasCity) February 3, 2023
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), who sits on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, responded to incursion into Missouri airspace by tweeting: “SHOOT IT DOWN.”
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) also called for immediate action to be taken in combatting the Chinese threat.
“I know I was just named to the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday but I’m going to go out on a limb and say we shouldn’t have a Chinese spy balloon floating over the United States of America,” Schmitt said. “Take it down.”
The U.S. Department of Defense revealed Friday that the Chinese spy balloon has the ability to maneuver and has changed direction at 60,000 feet.
Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder would not say how the balloon could be maneuvered and refused to state if the communist Chinese government was in control of the balloon.
“We know that balloon has violated US airspace and international law — which is unacceptable. And we’ve conveyed this directly to the PRC on multiple levels,” he told reporters Friday. “The fact is, we know that it’s a surveillance balloon, and I’m not going to be able to be more specific than that.”
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