President Joe Biden has said three unidentified objects shot down by US fighter jets do not appear to have been used for spying on the United States and were likely tied to benign purposes.
In a speech on Thursday, Mr Biden said the US intelligence community was still trying to learn more about the three unidentified objects: one that was shot down over Alaska, one over Canada and a third that plunged into Lake Huron.
"We don't yet know exactly what these three objects were, but nothing right now suggests they were related to the Chinese spy balloon program, or they were surveillance vehicles from other any other country," he said.
Mr Biden said the objects might have been spotted due to enhanced radar in response to the Chinese balloon that a US fighter jet shot down early this month and that he and his team were working on new parameters on when to launch missiles at such aircraft.
"In the immediate aftermath of the incursion by China's high-altitude balloon, our military through the North American space command, NORAD, closely scrutinised our airspace, including enhancing our radar to pick up more slow-moving objects above our country, and around the world," he said.
The intelligence community believes the three objects were "most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions", Mr Biden said.
But he added that the US and Canadian military were "seeking the recovery of the debris" to learn more about their purpose and origin.
He said a range of entities, including countries, companies and research organisations, operate objects at a high altitude for a variety of purposes, including legitimate scientific research.
Biden to meet Xi Jingping
In his speech, Mr Biden said he expected to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the suspected spy balloon that transited the United States.
China said the balloon was an unmanned weather airship that was accidentally blown off course, and threatened to "take countermeasures" for "undermining China's sovereignty and security".
Mr Biden did not say when he would speak with Mr Xi, but said the United States was continuing to engage diplomatically with China on the issue.
"We are not looking for a new cold war," Mr Biden said.
"I expect to be speaking with President Xi, I hope we are going to get to the bottom of this, but I make no apologies for taking down that balloon."
China said the 60-metre balloon was for monitoring weather conditions, but Washington said it clearly was a surveillance balloon with a massive undercarriage containing electronics.
Mr Biden, who had offered few public comments about the spate of aerial objects that began with the Chinese balloon, broke his silence after politicians demanded more information on the incidents, which have baffled many Americans.
ABC/wires
