Unmanned drones have been seen flying over several states including New York and New Jersey, sparking concerns about potential spying by foreign powers, according to an expert.
Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute focusing on Chinese affairs, believes these drones are not operated by amateurs due to their advanced technology.
‘These activities are too large and well-organized to be the work of hobbyists,’ Chang told Fox Business.
‘That leaves foreign powers. It could be Iran in connection with China, but clearly, somebody is trying to divert our attention.’
Chang raised worries that while the drones themselves are alarming, they could be part of a larger scheme to divert attention from a more serious danger.
‘What really worries me is what they might be doing elsewhere. We could very well get hit,’ he told Fox.
The presence of the drones has raised both alarm and confusion with few answers forthcoming. The crisis deepened last night, after DC locals claimed to have spotted drones floating in the sky around the US Capitol, as other videos purported to show objects on flight paths heading towards LaGuardia Airport.
The Biden administration and the Pentagon have failed to provide clarity on the origin or purpose of the drones with frustration mounting and critics questioning how such incidents can remain unresolved in an era of advanced surveillance.
Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute and an expert on Chinese affairs, believes the drones to possibly be the work of adversaries from overseas
Photos allegedly show an identified object in the sky over DC on Friday night
A wave of footage has emerged of the drones since they were first spotted last month including this footage from Bernardsville, New Jersey
‘How is it possible that the Pentagon doesn’t know? I’m not buying it,’ remarked Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo, voicing the skepticism felt by many Americans.
The surge in mysterious drone activity has drawn comparisons to the infamous series of Chinese spy balloons that brazenly floated across the United States last year, capturing headlines and igniting fears about foreign surveillance.
Now, with local officials remaining tight-lipped, theories abound, ranging from espionage to advanced reconnaissance efforts by foreign adversaries.
Chang expressed frustration over the handling of cases involving foreign nationals implicated in surveillance activities, emphasizing that they should not be processed through civilian courts.
‘I don’t think that Chinese nationals should be put through the civilian justice system.
‘This is a military violation,’ Chang said. ‘The person should be in a military brig because clearly the civilian system cannot process these people properly and quickly enough. We need to take them off the streets.’
A wave of footage has emerged of the drones since they were first spotted last month, with some of the clearest video yet coming this week in New Jersey.
Video captured in Somerset County shows three ‘mystery drones in the air’ as two move extremely close as if they are interacting with each other.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said that the drones are ‘very sophisticated’, explaining: ‘The minute we get eyes on them [the drones], they go dark.’
‘I don’t blame people for being frustrated,’ Gov. Murphy continued, adding that he had spent most of last Sunday coordinating on the issue with both the White House and the US Department of Homeland Security in the hope of getting answers.
Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo voiced the skepticism felt by many Americans
Swarms of drones have been spotted in the skies of New Jersey for weeks, sparking officials to call for a ‘limited state of emergency’
A New Jersey realtor shared a shocking video a bright dot floating through the sky towards a high-end Condominium on South Beach
The surge in mysterious drone activity has drawn comparisons to the infamous series of Chinese spy balloons that brazenly floated across the United States last year
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also slammed the Biden administration bumbling response to the crisis, telling the White House the bizarre episode ‘has gone too far.’
The Biden administration has maintained that the drones are not a public safety risk and pose no threat to the nation’s security.
The FBI has received more than 3,000 tips since the first sighting on November 18, with reports of varying levels of credibility cropping up in at least 12 counties throughout New Jersey, as well as eastern Pennsylvania and Orange County, New York.
As the drone mystery deepens, Fox anchor Bartiromo continued to echo widespread concerns about the lack of transparency from government agencies.
‘It’s been weeks,’ she said. ‘At this point, it’s really not right that the Pentagon has not given us more information. Of course, everyone will speculate, but we need real answers to understand what’s going on.’
Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions with China continue to cast a long shadow. Bartiromo highlighted the ongoing surveillance efforts near U.S. military bases, noting that ‘the fact that China is surveilling America is not a secret. Everyone knows their surveillance program is in place.’
One TikToker spotted a drone coming in off the Atlantic Ocean further sparking fears
In an unexpected twist, it has been reported that President-elect Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration.
The move has drawn scrutiny, given China’s contentious relationship with the United States. ‘Why should we invite such an individual to the inauguration?’ Chang asked pointedly, referencing Xi’s track record of aggression toward the U.S.
The timing of Trump’s invitation coincides with China’s ramped-up efforts to challenge the United States on multiple fronts.
In addition to its surveillance activities, China has reportedly targeted American companies like NVIDIA with antitrust probes, which many view as retaliation for U.S. semiconductor export restrictions.
