Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that in the early months of this year, a Chinese spy balloon utilized American technology to effectively collect audio-visual information while crossing the United States.
Multiple US defense and intel agencies’ analysis revealed balloon packed with US gear, Chinese sensors, and specialized equipment for capturing, transmitting photos, videos, and intel to China.
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"Chinese Spy Balloon Used American Tech 1")
The report from the Wall Street Journal suggests spying intent, not weather monitoring, as claimed by China. However, the balloon failed to transmit data during its eight-day journey over:-
- Alaska
- Canada
- Other bordering US states
When the White House and FBI were asked to comment on this issue, they didn’t deliver any immediate response, but a rise of diplomatic crisis occurred when the U.S. took down the balloon flying over sensitive military sites in February.
It has been described as an inventive surveillance attempt since Beijing presents the Chinese balloon equipped with a blend of off-the-shelf and specialized gear.
The debris analysis rendered the preliminary findings; after the U.S. military shot down the balloon on Feb 4 off SC (South Carolina) coast, it collected media but seemingly didn’t transmit to China.
US officials followed purchase orders for balloon equipment, investigating links between buyers and the Chinese government, according to the report.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn’t respond to comment request on this matter. While the White House and FBI are also yet to provide responses, as mentioned earlier.
Following Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s high-ranking visit to Beijing, aiming to repair the relations between both countries. While this development emerges as the most significant American official visit to China in five years.
Apart from this, the officials remained tight-lipped and declined to comment anything on craft malfunction, but Pentagon confirmed that the US military used several countermeasures to prevent the balloon’s data collection.
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