China’s alleged “spy balloon,” which angered millions of Americans across the country last week, appears to be part of a larger global surveillance plan by Beijing’s authoritarian government, according to a new report Wednesday.
Citing three US intelligence sources, The New York Times reports that last week’s diplomatic incident is part of a global Chinese espionage campaign.
The likely goal is believed to be to gather more information about US military bases, as well as other nations’ military capabilities.
Such surveillance devices have reportedly been spotted in at least 12 different countries across five continents.
Air Force fighter jets shot down the balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday, sparking a public outcry over Beijing’s brutal espionage tactics.
China’s alleged “spy balloon,” which angered millions of Americans across the country last week, appears to be part of a larger global surveillance plan by Beijing’s authoritarian government, according to a new report Wednesday.
The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts out to sea after being shot down offshore on February 4, 2023 in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, United States.
It was first seen crossing US territory on January 28th, briefly crossing Canada, then crossing several continental US states before being shot down on February 4th.
President Joe Biden ordered it shot down last Wednesday, but defense officials warned it would be safer when the falling debris no longer posed a risk to Americans on the ground.
Biden’s Republican critics called it a poor response, claiming that he allowed the Chinese government to gather intelligence on key national security issues during the days it was allowed to tour the country untouched – at a level that would be low enough to face it. seen with the naked eye. .
But according to the report, the days the ship spent sailing over the United States provided analysts with valuable information about China’s surveillance capabilities.
US officials have noted that advantages of using such devices via satellites to gather information include the unpredictability of their routes compared to fixed-orbit satellites, as well as the ability to create clearer images of what they are tracking on the ground.
The Pentagon said the balloon shot down Saturday was the second such device discovered under the Biden administration.
According to Biden Defense officials, three such balloons have flown around the country under Donald Trump — something people in the previous administration were skeptical about.
“What is the basis of this new discovery?” Ex-Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, told CNN earlier this week.
US intelligence officials have reportedly discovered that China is using such devices to monitor US and other government military capabilities
However, according to the Times’ reporting, the incidents were classified as “unidentified aerial phenomena” at the time.
Biden made a brief reference to the recent balloon during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night.
“Today we are in the strongest position in decades to compete with China or anyone else in the world,” the president boasted.
“I am committed to working with China where it can advance American interests and benefit the world.”
But make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And that’s what we did.”
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Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
