Canada, U.S. call out China over surveillance balloon

Canada announced that it had called China’s ambassador onto the carpet — but otherwise remained tight-lipped — as Ottawa and Washington expressed their disapproval about a high-altitude surveillance balloon found floating over the United States.

Chinese Ambassador Cong Peiwu was summoned for the dressing down from Global Affairs Canada officials on Thursday after the Pentagon revealed the presence of the balloon over the sensitive military sites in the western U.S.

The discovery was announced by Pentagon officials on Thursday, who said one of the places it was spotted was over the state of Montana, which is home to one of America’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

On Friday, Pentagon spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Patrick Ryder described the object as a manoeuvrable surveillance balloon flying at an altitude of about 60,000 feet, or 18,288 metres, with a “payload” or basket underneath.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said NORAD, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defence and other partners were “assessing the situation and working in close co-ordination,” adding that Canadian intelligence agencies are working with American partners.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Friday she had spoken to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the security of Canada’s airspace. “We are collaborating with our American partners and continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard Canada’s sensitive information,” she said.