Unmanned drones that have been spotted flying over New York, New Jersey, and multiple other states in recent weeks are likely the result of foreign powers spying on the United States, an expert has claimed.

Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at conservative think tank the Gatestone Institute and an expert on Chinese affairs, said the drones appeared to be highly sophisticated and are not being controlled by amateurs.

'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 suggested that while the drones themselves are unsettling, he was more troubled by the fact that they could be a distraction for a far greater threat.

'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.

'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.'

Chang then made observations about President Xi Jinping: 'This is the Xi Jinping who deliberately spread Covid-19 beyond China's borders, killing 1.2 million Americans. 

'This is the Xi Jinping who each year with malice and forethought, kills 70,000 Americans with fentanyl. This is the Xi Jinping who runs a regime that steals half a trillion of US intellectual property each year.

'This is the Xi Jinping who flew that spy balloon over our nuclear weapon sites. The question I'd like to ask is, regardless of what Trump's strategy is, why should we invite such an individual to the inauguration?' 

Speaking about the way that foreign and US businesses run in China, he said: 'China is determined to destroy their businesses.'  

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. 

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.'

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.