(OTTAWA) Opposition parties in Ottawa say Canadians have a right to know more about the Chinese balloon’s incursion into Canadian territory, while the federal government is sparing of comment on the matter.
The various political formations made the call on Monday, shortly after the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command revealed that “gaps” in the continent’s warning system prevented authorities from detecting other balloons in the past.
National Defense Minister Anita Anand confirmed that the Chinese balloon that was shot down in the United States last weekend violated Canadian airspace, but the government declined to provide details on when and where the ball flew in Canada.
This choice contrasts with Washington’s decision, which provided several details on the flight of the balloon, which passed through Alaska, then Canada and then entered the continental United States. It was finally shot down off South Carolina on Saturday.
“The Pentagon and the White House have been much more open in discussing what happened,” noted Conservative National Defense Critic James Bezan.
“As a country whose airspace has been violated by the Chinese Communist Party, we deserve answers,” he said.
Opposition parties also want to know why the public did not learn of the balloon’s existence before it had already left Canadian airspace, why it was not arrested sooner and what measures are taken to prevent and punish China’s espionage efforts.
“It is high time for the government to take action to counter Chinese influence and modernize Canada’s defense systems,” said Bloc Québécois spokesperson for National Defence, Christine Normandin.
“We must shed light on this event and the government must offer answers to the population as to the impact of this spy balloon. »
An opportunity to learn
The US military first confirmed the presence of the Chinese balloon after it was spotted over Montana on 1er FEBRUARY. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin later revealed that it was first detected in US airspace in Alaska on January 28.
While Beijing claims it was a stray weather research balloon, Ottawa and Washington allege it was used to spy on sensitive military sites.
NORAD Commander, US General Glen VanHerck, told reporters that similar balloons had escaped detection by North America’s aging warning system in the past due to a “lack of knowledge of this domain “.
“So we had the opportunity to go and collect information to better understand what these balloons really do and what they are capable of,” said General VanHerck.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed on Monday that the U.S. military had begun taking possession of the balloon’s debris.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh insisted that Canada should be part of any investigation into what will be recovered from the ball.
“People are afraid that Canada’s economic and security advantages will be compromised,” Singh said in a statement. Canada should take an active role in investigating the purpose of the device and in locating any intelligence it has gathered. »
Minister Anand’s office did not respond to questions about when the balloon entered Canadian airspace from Alaska, or how long it stayed in Canada before returning to the United States in- over Idaho.
Department of National Defense spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier explained only that after finding that the balloon did not pose a threat, Canadian and American officials decided to reveal the presence of the balloon “at the appropriate time, taking into account operational security”.
With information from The Associated Press.