# The Pentagon is tracking a Chinese spy balloon **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 3, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228 "2023-02-03T01:32:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 34
**Author:** ![WellHelloThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@WellHelloThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WellHelloThere)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/662 "2023-02-12T22:15:27Z")
We are a couple decades ahead on satellites. I think the advantage of a balloon is that it isn’t as high and can take better pictures. US satellites can probably take good enough pictures that we don’t need balloons. Eta it should be noted, the US has the first object, whatever it was. China still says it was a weather observation craft. Knowing full well we can show proof otherwise. Maybe it actually was what they said. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/663 "2023-02-12T22:22:55Z")
China is claiming that they’re tracking an object floating over their air space. > **[China spots mystery object over waters near northern port city](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3209964/china-spots-mystery-object-over-waters-near-northern-port-city)** > > Authorities say they will prepare to be able to shoot down the unidentified vessel. ---
**Author:** ![WellHelloThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@WellHelloThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WellHelloThere)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/664 "2023-02-12T23:25:57Z")
China Daily is the the English language propaganda outlet of the PRC. They are not reporting on this at all. Doesn’t mean it is not a thing, but it should be noted that there has been no official notice from China like the article implies. Please correct me if I am mistaken, I did search. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/665 "2023-02-12T23:28:55Z")
The South China Morning Post is owned by Alibaba. Isn’t that a Chinese government owned company? ---
**Author:** ![WellHelloThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@WellHelloThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WellHelloThere)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/666 "2023-02-12T23:34:05Z")
It is. Although it allegedly has editorial control. Really, I am wondering why one outlet would report it and the other would say nothing ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/667 "2023-02-13T00:14:01Z")
> [@WellHelloThere](#): > > China Daily is the the English language propaganda outlet of the PRC. They are not reporting on this at all. Global Times is a daily tabloid newspaper under the auspices of the Chinese Communist Party’s flagship newspaper, the People’s Daily: > ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/668 "2023-02-13T00:20:56Z")
I think you’re spot on with a combination of all five reasons. For obfuscation purposes, the enemy\* will fly a balloon for reason 1 & 4. Then, another enemy will switch it up with another balloon to test 2 & 4. Then another enemy tries and tests 2 & 3, and so on. These balloons are cheap to build and set aloft. The response they’re triggering is far more costly. The balloons are not the collection platform, they’re just the input. Our response on the world stage is out output, with the international press as the collection platform, allowing the enemy\* a propaganda coup. We are currently being poked onsey-twosey, but a “denial of service” flood of these things (impacting aeronautical travel, and more) is _just_ around the corner. . . (\*) I am not convinced this is the act of just one nation. I suspect the one balloon may be Chinese. Then a copycat balloon by the North Koreans. And another copycat by the Russians. Once the Chinese opened the door, other hostile nations are probably happy to jump on the “harassment bandwagon.” Tripler Lasers. We need some anti-balloon, ground-based lasers. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/669 "2023-02-13T00:22:55Z")
Pentagon statement on the Lake Huron UFO shootdown: [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FozS3FdWAAEt54T?format=jpg&name=medium) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FozS3FdWAAEt54T?format=jpg&name=medium) ---
**Author:** ![WellHelloThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@WellHelloThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WellHelloThere)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/670 "2023-02-13T00:35:23Z")
Thanks, did not know about Global Times. ---
**Author:** ![WellHelloThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@WellHelloThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WellHelloThere)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/671 "2023-02-13T00:38:25Z")
The disjointed and unhinged reaction to the first object almost invites a nation to do this as a “poke”. The US is acting very pokeable right now. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/672 "2023-02-13T00:43:29Z")
I expect at least some of the objects are launched, not by governments, but by private individuals. Weather balloons aren’t actually all that expensive, and there are a lot of trolls out there. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/673 "2023-02-13T00:56:23Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > How likely is it that the US has sent up its own spy balloons? I’ve always assumed various nations have all sorts of aerial spy devices floating or flying around up there. Yeah, we’re guilty of same. We lied, bluffed, feigned knowledge of. All that stuff. > **[The U.S. launched HUNDREDS of SPY BALLOONS against the Soviets during the...](https://www.rbth.com/history/335863-us-spy-balloons-ussr)** > > Reconnaissance balloons preceded the use of high-altitude U-2 planes that the U.S. used to spy on the USSR in the late 1950s. > **[U.S. Sent “Weather” Balloons to Spy on China and the Soviet Union in the 1950s](https://theintercept.com/2023/02/07/china-balloon-soviet-union/)** > > When caught, the Eisenhower administration lied through its teeth about it. (may need to turn off ad blocker for this site temporarily) ---
**Author:** ![WellHelloThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@WellHelloThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WellHelloThere)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/674 "2023-02-13T01:00:36Z")
If we are going back that far, we can talk about the U2 spyplane as well. A major diplomatic fiasco when the Soviets shot one down. I just looked, it appears we actually still use them. Did not know that. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/675 "2023-02-13T01:09:55Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [China spots mystery object over waters near northern port city | South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3209964/china-spots-mystery-object-over-waters-near-northern-port-city) damn - make that headline my contribution to “misread thread-titles” … for one sec. I really thought good ol’ Rog is at it again … ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/676 "2023-02-13T01:24:41Z")
NORTHCOM Commander General Glen D. Vanherck on the potential of the recent UFOs shot down in North America belonging to extraterrestrial life: “I haven’t ruled out anything at this point.” Also: “We cannot say how latest objects are staying aloft. We’re calling them objects, not balloons for a reason.” > ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/677 "2023-02-13T01:35:57Z")
They come in peace! > ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/678 "2023-02-13T01:56:32Z")
Some day, we’re going to realize we’re wasting expensive missiles on harmless targets and stop shooting down everything in sight. I hope that day comes soon. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/679 "2023-02-13T01:59:12Z")
Someone pointed out that missiles have an expiration date, and are fired off for one reason or another. Pilots need some experience with that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/680 "2023-02-13T02:27:27Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > How likely is it that the US has sent up its own spy balloons? I’ve always assumed various nations have all sorts of aerial spy devices floating or flying around up there. Maybe. We have a highly maneuverable space vehicle that stays in in orbit for a year or more and we have stealth drones. We were launching [D-21](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_D-21) Mach 3 drones off of A-12’s (SR-71 predecessor) and B-52’s back in the mid 60’s. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/681 "2023-02-13T02:37:42Z")
> Some day, we’re going to realize we’re wasting expensive missiles on harmless targets and stop shooting down everything in sight. I hope that day comes soon. I’m still trying to figure out why they used explosive munitions and not guns, especially if we intended on recovering the debris to gather intel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228.md?page=35)