Japan Defence Ministry 'strongly suspects' Chinese surveillance balloons have entered Japanese territory

The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach
The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S. February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Randall Hill

TOKYO, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Japan's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that it "strongly suspects" Chinese surveillance balloons have entered Japanese territory at least three times since 2019.

The balloons were detected in 2019, 2020 and 2021, the ministry said in a statement, adding that Japan had called on China's government to verify the facts of the situation and make sure it does not happen again.

Reporting by Elaine Lies, editing by Ed Osmond

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Read Next