In January Last Year, Suspected 'Chinese Reconnaissance Balloon' Object Found in Kyushu

On the 4th (local time), the United States is shooting down a Chinese 'reconnaissance balloon' that entered its territory using stealth fighters and other means. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The U.S. government has confirmed that Chinese reconnaissance balloons have been active around the world, and the Japanese government also revealed that it discovered an unidentified balloon last year.

At a regular press conference on the 9th, Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, stated that an unidentified balloon was confirmed over international waters west of Kyushu in January of last year.

He added, "We will continue to cooperate with our allies and devote all efforts to collecting and analyzing information related to the balloon with great interest."

According to Kyodo News, the Japanese government is investigating the connection between the balloon confirmed over western Kyushu and the Chinese reconnaissance balloons.

The balloon found near Kyushu appears to be separate from the flying objects that the Japanese government mentioned were confirmed in the Tohoku region of Japan in 2020 and 2021.

Matsuno explained, "We are analyzing the flying objects sighted over our country (Japan) in June 2020 and September 2021, including their possible relation to this recent U.S.-related matter."

He continued, "The government intends to continue close cooperation with the U.S., South Korea, and others, and will devote all efforts to necessary government collection, analysis, and surveillance and monitoring."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.