The Government of Japan reported Monday that an aerostat balloon crossed its airspace in January 2022, adding that it is «highly likely» that it was a Chinese reconnaissance balloon.
According to Japanese officials, the balloon flew in January 2022 over western Kyushu Island in southern Japan, coming from the East China Sea. The flying object crossed the island from northwest to southeast, reaching the Pacific Ocean, as reported by Fuji TV.
The aerostat was also photographed over Japanese airspace by the Japan Army Self-Defense Forces, which captured it from an aircraft. It had, according to the Japanese government, the same shape as the Chinese spy balloon allegedly shot down by the United States off the coast of South Carolina on February 4.
JAPAN SAW OTHER OBJECTS IN THE AIR IN 2020 AND 2021 In addition to the recent balloon photographed in January 2022, Japan observed flying objects in June 2020 and September 2021.
This was reported by Japan’s Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, who declined to elaborate on specific instances assuring that the release of such information would reveal Japan’s intelligence gathering capabilities, USNI News reported.
However, the 2020 and 2021 unidentified objects were sighted on the country’s main island of Honshu, while the 2022 object was sighted on the southern island of Kyushu.
The Japanese defense chief also detailed that Japan is working closely with the United States to share information on possible balloon sightings.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
