It is reported by the NBC channel.
“The US government has located and is tracking a high-altitude observation probe that is right now over the US mainland,” Ryder said.
It is noted that upon discovery of the object, the US government immediately took measures to protect against the collection of confidential information.
The US Department of Defense noted that China had previously launched similar facilities, but this time the balloon stays over the US longer than usual.
The department added that the balloon arrived from the Aleutian Islands through the territory of Canada.
Earlier, Republican Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy said that he would not take into account the opinion of Beijing in a possible trip to Taiwan.
It was also reported that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken intends to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his upcoming visit to China.