Biden to speak on unknown aerial objects amid review

After three weeks of high-stakes aerial drama sparked by the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon transiting much of the country, Vice President Joe Biden is set to deliver his most substantial account of U.S. efforts to track, monitor, and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects on Thursday.

The president’s remarks at 2 p.m. were preceded by his order for National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan to head a “interagency team” to review U.S. procedures following the shooting down of the China balloon and three other objects, all of which are now thought to be “benign,” by the United States. Three other illegal objects were shot down within a week following the downing of the Chinese surveillance drone, making it the fourth time this has happened during peacetime in US airspace.

The team will “examine how we monitor, review how we decide to take action, and see if there’s anything extra that needs to be done,” said press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. There will be “new protocols” revealed this week, she added.

Tensions between the United States and China have increased as a result of the China balloon. Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, had to cancel a trip to China last week. There is talk that Blinken would utilize the Munich Security Conference to meet with Wang Yi, China’s top foreign policy official, who is also scheduled to attend on Thursday.