A recent report by US media outlets has revealed that a Chinese balloon, which flew over US military bases earlier this year, was able to gather intelligence and transmit it back to Beijing in real time. The balloon was reportedly able to pick up electronic signals rather than taking pictures, as it floated over the US for several days before it was shot down.
The balloon, which was approximately 60 meters tall, was able to transmit data to Beijing as it passed over various military bases in the US. Although the White House has yet to confirm the report, US officials cited by NBC News claim that they were able to limit the balloon’s intelligence-gathering abilities during its time in US airspace.
The US defense department spokesperson stated that the FBI is still examining the balloon debris. “We do know that the balloon was able to be maneuvered and purposely driven along its track,” said spokesperson Sabrina Singh. “We’re still doing an assessment of what the intel was that China was able to gather, but we do know that the steps that we took provided little additive value to what they’ve been able to collect from satellites before,” she added.
The balloon’s flight over the US caused concern among US officials, and its ability to transmit data in real-time has been described as a significant breach of US national security. The incident triggered a diplomatic row and led to the cancellation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to China.
Reports suggest that the balloon was able to make multiple passes over military bases, sometimes flying in a figure-eight loop. Officials told US media that China was able to control the balloon’s flight path remotely, allowing it to gather intelligence from specific locations.
The US defense department has since revealed that China operates a fleet of similar balloons around the world. In the weeks following the incident, US fighter jets shot down several other balloons that they suspected had originated in China.
The incident has once again highlighted the increasing competition between the US and China in the field of technology and intelligence-gathering. As the two nations continue to jostle for dominance, such incidents are likely to become more common in the future, and the need for increased vigilance and security measures will be paramount for both countries.
