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Case · C-087

Sendai 2020: the white object later attributed to a Chinese balloon

Sendai (Aoba Ward), Miyagi Prefecture · Japan · Jun 17, 2020

In flight Civilian witnesses Photos

Explained

What happened
On the morning of June 17, 2020, a large white balloon-like object, with what looked like two crossed propellers, remained almost stationary for hours above the Aoba Ward of Sendai before moving toward the Pacific, and was photographed by many residents. The Sendai office of the Japan Meteorological Agency said it was not theirs and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga stated that he did not know its origin. On February 14, 2023, the Ministry of Defense announced that, after further analysis, this and two other similar objects were very probably Chinese reconnaissance balloons, and the government protested to Beijing over the violation of its airspace.
Proposed explanation
In February 2023 the Japanese government stated that it strongly presumes that the balloon-shaped objects observed in November 2019 (Satsumasendai, Kagoshima), in June 2020 (Sendai) and in September 2021 (Hachinohe, Aomori) were unmanned reconnaissance balloons launched by China, without disclosing the methods of analysis. China rejected the accusation as groundless and lacking conclusive evidence.
Official investigation
Japan's Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Japan Meteorological Agency
Words of the document
the balloons concerned were unmanned surveillance balloons launched by China

Official documents

  1. Press Conference by Foreign Press Secretary ONO Hikariko (15 febbraio 2023) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Feb 15, 2023
  2. 浜田防衛大臣閣議後会見 (conferenza stampa del ministro della Difesa Hamada, 17 febbraio 2023) · Ministry of Defense of Japan · Feb 17, 2023

Sources

  1. 'It's not ours': Government denies knowledge of strange 'UFO' over Japanese city (Live Science, 2020) (press)
  2. Japan says it strongly presumes China sent three spy balloons into its airspace (The Aviationist, 2023) (press)
  3. Japan warns China of airspace violation as spy balloons suspected (Al Jazeera, 2023) (press)

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