World News | US defends decision to shoot down three unidentified objects

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (AP) — The White House on Monday defended shooting down three unidentified objects in as many days, even as it acknowledged there was no indication they were intended for surveillance like the high-altitude balloons that flew over China. US airspace earlier this month.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the three objects, including one that was shot down over Lake Huron on Sunday, were flying at low altitudes and posed a threat to civilian air traffic. While the Biden administration has no evidence yet that they are equipped with spy equipment or even belong to China, officials cannot rule that out, he said.

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“These decisions are made purely in the best interests of the American people,” Kirby said.

Kirby spoke from the White House podium hours after China claimed more than 10 high-altitude U.S. balloons had flown in its airspace in the past year without its permission. U.S. officials have vehemently denied that claim, with Kirby saying on Monday, “We are not flying surveillance balloons over China.”

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While the origin and purpose of the three recently shot down objects remain unknown, their mere presence in U.S. airspace has raised concerns among U.S. national security officials because of a giant balloon the U.S. believes is used exclusively for surveillance and which was launched on Feb. 4. U.S. fighter jets shot down the plane over the coast of the Carolinas.

The Chinese charges came after the United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon from Alaska to South Carolina, triggering a new crisis in bilateral relations that has fallen to its lowest level in decades.

Since then, the fighter jets have also shot down objects over Canada and Alaska, and one over Lake Huron on Sunday. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)