Thursday evening The Pentagon confirmed that the US government has been tracking what is being described as a high-altitude surveillance balloon from the People’s Republic of China. The balloon, which entered continental US airspace a “couple of days ago,” according to a senior defense official, is the latest sign of the growing severity of the power competition between China and the United States.

The balloon, spotted above Montana, is floating at an altitude that The Pentagon described as “significantly above where civilian air traffic is active,” but in the atmosphere and not in outer space.

Although defense officials expressed doubt that the balloon was any more valuable at gathering information than the PRC’s low orbiting satellites, worries remain about the flight path the balloon is taking.

When asked whether the balloon was trying to collect intelligence on nuclear weapons that are siloed in Montana, the senior defense official stated that it was a concern.

“Yes, so clearly the intent of this balloon is for surveillance. And so the current flight path does carry it over a number of sensitive sites.”

This concern was echoed by Montana’s Republican senator, Steve Daines. In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Daines wrote, “The fact that this balloon was occupying Montana airspace creates significant concern that Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB) and the United States’ intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) fields are the target of this intelligence gathering mission.”

After being briefed on the issue, President Biden asked for military options but was advised by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Mark Milley, and the commander of NORTHCOM, General Glen VanHerck, not to take kinetic action “due to the risk to safety and security of people on the ground from the possible debris field.”

Some Republicans disagreed with the decision to not shoot down the balloon. Representative Ryan Zinke, a Republican from Montana, tweeted, “Shoot. It. Down. The Chinese spy balloon is clear provocation. In Montana we do not bow. We shoot it down. Take the shot.”

Fellow Montana Republican Matt Rosendale expressed similar outrage at Biden’s inaction tweeting, “It’s unacceptable to allow communist China to invade our airspace – this is another clear example of Chinese aggression. President Biden must start putting the American people first and recognize that China is a threat to our freedom, values, and way of life.”

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also called out President Biden.

“China’s brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action that must be addressed, and President Biden cannot be silent. I am requesting a Gang of Eight briefing.”

The “Gang of Eight” is a group of top congressional leaders including the chairs and ranking minority members of the Senate and House Intelligence Committees.

Exactly what action will be taken remains to be seen, but there is clear agreement that the surveillance balloon is indeed from China.

“I will just say we have very high confidence that this is a PRC balloon. Very high confidence,” noted the senior defense official.

Dan Satterfield, a fellow at the American Meteorological Society corroborated the balloon’s origin to be Central China using a computer model to map its trajectory.

The senior defense official said that the US has engaged urgently with PRC officials through “multiple channels” including embassies in both Washington DC and Beijing.

“We have communicated to them the seriousness with which we take this issue. But beyond that I'm not going to go into the content of the -- of the message. But we have made clear we will do whatever is necessary to protect our people and our homeland. And so if the risk profile that I described earlier, if that changes we will have options to deal with this balloon.”

This is not the first time such an event has occurred in US airspace.

“It is not the first time that you had a balloon of this nature cross over the continental United States. It has happened a handful of other times over the past few years, to include before this administration. It is appearing to hang out for a long period of time this time around, more persistent than in previous instances. So that would be one distinguishing factor,” said the senior defense official.

This latest provocation from Beijing comes as Secretary of State Athony Blinken prepares to travel to China next week. During his trip Blinken is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping where the focus is expected to center on Russia’s war in Ukraine.

For his part Senator Tom Cotton (R. AR) called on Blinken to cancel his trip given the circumstances. “Secretary Blinken should cancel his trip to China. And President Biden must answer why he has not secured U.S. Airspace.”

The appearance of the PRC surveillance balloon comes at a time when the strategic competition between Beijing and Washington is reaching an all-time high.

On Thursday morning it was reported that the US was granted expanded access to multiple military bases in the Philippines, giving Washington more flexibility and preparedness to deal with a scenario in which China invades Taiwan.

Meanwhile in Africa, US military leaders are in serious conversations concerning the expansion of joint counterterrorism base in Kenya. Kenya has asked the United States to pay for a new runway at the base, and although the US is hesitant to do so, it is fearful that China will step in and siphon even more influence away from Washington on the continent.

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