Japan Has Detected Objects Similar To Balloons In The US Suspected As Chinese Spies

JAKARTA - Japan is coordinating with Washington to analyze unidentified aerial objects seen over the country in recent years. This is the aftermath of a US fighter jet shooting down a Chinese reconnaissance balloon.

"We are in communication with the United States but we refuse to comment on diplomatic exchanges," the government's chief spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters Thursday 9 February.

"Therefore, we analyzed objects observed over Japan in June 2020 and September 2021, including their relation to cases in the United States," he continued, quoted by Channel News Asia.

A mysterious balloon-like object was seen in northern Japan in June 2020. Even local residents had time to post pictures on social media.

Authorities later said they were confused by the object, which in close-up pictures by residents and media appeared to consist of a balloon mounted on crossed sticks with propellers.

Japan's meteorological agency said at the time that the balloon looked like a weather monitor but was not theirs.

At that time, the government rejected the assumption that it belonged to a foreign government. But the recent furor over alleged Chinese reconnaissance balloons being shot down after passing over the US has prompted a re-evaluation.

Matsuno also revealed that the government had seen similar balloons whose affiliation is unknown including in January 2022 over the sea west of Kyushu, in southwestern Japan.

"We continue to make maximum efforts to collect and analyze (information) in collaboration with our allies," he said.

Japan's defense ministry said earlier this week it was conducting 24-hour, 365-day surveillance of all airspace over Japan.