Suspected Spy-Balloon Seen Over Andaman Islands a Year Back

A suspected spy balloon had hovered over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in January 2022. A strange white sphere appeared in the skies above the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in January 2022. “Eight dark panels” were seen to be hanging from it.

With the recent spotting of similar mysterious balloons over America and Japan, the question arises, was this mysterious balloon involved in spying?

US intelligence officials suspect the balloons that flew over America were part of an extensive Chinese surveillance program run from the island province of Hainan that has flown balloons over at least five continents in recent years.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said Chinese balloons flying over its territory in September 2021 and again in February 2022. Japan meanwhile claimed that three “balloon-shaped flying objects” were detected in its airspace between November 2019 and September 2021 and they were “unmanned reconnaissance” aircraft flown by China.

But India has remained silent regarding the mysterious balloon that was seen over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

“Mystery balloon hovered over Andaman and Nicobar Islands around tri-service military drill,” reported India Today; “Chinese spy balloons, UFOs trigger paranoia among countries. Should India be worried?” asked Live Mint. “Reports Suggest India Was Targeted by Chinese Balloon Too,” ran a headline in The Wire; “Did a Chinese ‘spy’ balloon snoop on India too?” asked Firstpost.

In recent years, New Delhi has poured great effort into enhancing the islands’ prospects as a military base, with PM Modi in 2019 unveiling a decade-long plan to add more troops, warships and aircraft to its existing fleet.