Tokyo, February 15 The Japanese government revealed that between 2019 and 2021 it detected three unidentified flying objects over its territory which it suspects were supposed Chinese spy balloons like the one shot down by the United States in the beginning FEBRUARY.
“Following further analysis of balloon-shaped flying objects that have been confirmed in Japanese airspace (…), we have concluded that it is strongly suspected to be unmanned reconnaissance balloons operated by China”. statement.
It’s the first time Japan has spoken out on the issue since the United States shot down what it called a Chinese spy balloon that raided American airspace earlier this month.
Japan’s sightings of these objects took place precisely in November 2019, June 2020 and September 2021, according to details provided by the Defense.
Japan asked China “to confirm the facts related to this case through diplomatic channels” and “firmly” asked the neighboring country “that such a situation not happen again in the future”, according to the same sources. .
Japan’s Defense Ministry has not explained why it believes the flying objects belonged to China.
The announcement comes after Japanese authorities decided to reanalyze past sightings of unidentified flying objects over their territory following Washington’s downing of the Chinese plane earlier this month, which it said Beijing, was a meteorology-focused research aircraft. .