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Japan says objects seen in 2019-2021 were likely Chinese spy balloons

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Japan
Japan Ministry of Defense buildings and main gate in Ichigaya, Tokyo
Japan's Defense Ministry headquarters in Tokyo, which attributed the balloon sightings to China Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

After re-analyzing balloon-shaped objects seen over Japan in November 2019, June 2020 and September 2021, Japan's Defense Ministry said they were strongly presumed to be unmanned Chinese reconnaissance balloons. Tokyo protested to Beijing, which objected to the attribution.

Sources

  1. PressJapan says past aerial objects likely Chinese spy balloonsThe Defense Post (AFP) / 2023-02-15
  2. PressJapan 'strongly presumes' Chinese spy balloons entered its airspace between 2019-2021CTV News (CNN) / 2023-02-15

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