The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that the suspected Chinese spy balloon that has put authorities on alert this week will eventually leave the country through the east coast in the coming hours, while the Chinese government has insisted once again that the presence of the balloon over U.S. territory is due to an accident and that it is a civilian research device.
According to NOAA models, the balloon will overfly in the next hours the states of Kentucky and Tennessee before heading to the chain of islands off the coast of North Carolina, the Outer Banks, as the last North American destination before flying into the Atlantic.
Two Defense Department sources have corroborated this possible trajectory to CNN.
For its part, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has blamed the chaotic situation on a «force majeure» event that has necessitated the policy of «constant contacts and communication» agreed by the American and Chinese leaders, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, to clear up any misunderstandings.
«This situation was completely unexpected, but the facts are crystal clear,» the spokesman said in comments reported by the U.S. network.
«This is a civilian device,» he insisted, «used for research; mainly meteorological purposes.» The spokesman added that the aircraft was affected by the currents generated by the westerly winds of the planet’s midlands and that, «because its maneuverability is very limited, it ended up drifting far from its intended trajectory».
«China has always acted in strict accordance with international law and respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. We have no intention to violate and have never violated the territory or airspace of any sovereign country,» the spokesman concluded.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
