Two objects that were shot down over North America were surveillance balloons, U.S. officials said. American fighter jets shot down the objects Friday and Saturday over Canada and Alaska.
The balloons are believed to be part of a robust surveillance program by the Peoples Republic of China, a security source told Soldier of Fortune.
“I think the Chinese were humiliated” by the balloon program being discovered, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said while appearing Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”
National security advisor Jake Sullivan told the senator that “they believe” the objects shot down over Canada and Alaska were surveillance balloons, Schumer said.
The latest shoot-downs bring to three the tally of foreign objects shot down over North American territory.