The Chinese balloon that was shot down by an American F-22, in South Carolina, on February 4, 2023. RANDALL HILL/REUTERS
A mysterious flying object resembling a balloon was notably noticed in the north of the Japanese archipelago in 2020. Residents had posted photos of it on social networks.
Tokyo on Thursday (February 9th) announced cooperation with Washington to reassess the nature of unidentified flying objects seen over Japan in recent years after the United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon.
Feedback on observations from 2020
“We communicate with the United States but decline to comment on diplomatic exchangessaid Thursday, February 9, the chief government spokesman, Hirokazu Matsuno, in front of journalists.
Read alsoChinese balloon shot down: the incident of the mysterious aircraft questions Beijing’s intentions
“That being said, we are analyzing objects observed over Japan in June 2020 and September 2021, including their possible links to the case in the United States“, he added. A mysterious flying object resembling a balloon had indeed been noticed in northern Japan in 2020. Residents had posted photos of it on social networks.
The Japan Meteorological Agency then said the balloon looked like a weather analysis aerostat, but that it did not belong to them. The government had ruled out speculation that the aircraft belonged to a foreign state, but the affair of the Chinese balloon shot down in American skies has revived doubts about its nature.
Continuous monitoring
Hirokazu Matsuno revealed that “the government spotted similar balloons of unknown ownership“, including one in January 2022 which flew over the sea west of Kyushu, in the south-west of the country. “We continue to make the necessary efforts to collect and analyze (information) in cooperation with our ally“, he continued.
Earlier this week, the Japanese Ministry of Defense said it was conducting a “24/365 surveillance of Japanese airspace“. But he declined to confirm whether surveillance balloons, like the Chinese balloon shot down by the United States, had been seen over Japan.
“However, when we confirm a case of airspace intrusion, we announce it appropriately. We have never confirmed or announced any violation of airspace by balloons“, replied the ministry to a question from AFP.
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