Hawaii And Guam Were The Original Targets Of Shot Down Chinese Spy Balloon, Report Says
Siladitya RayForbes Staff
Feb 16, 2023,05:06am EST
Updated Feb 16, 2023, 05:36am EST
TOPLINE The Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot down by the U.S. military earlier this month was initially meant to fly over Guam and Hawaii, Reuters reported on Wednesday as Chinese officials criticized U.S. lawmakers accusing them of exaggerating the issue in an effort to “contain China.”
Citing an unnamed U.S. official, Reuters reported that the balloon was carried off course “by prevailing winds” causing it to drift across Alaska and the U.S. mainland before being shot down near the coast of South Carolina.
Both Guam and Hawaii are home to key U.S. military installations and the New York Times reports that the targets of China’s balloon program appear to be military bases in the Pacific.
