On video: the interception of the Chinese balloon over the Atlantic Ocean (Reuters)
American intelligence agencies estimate that the Chinese spy balloon program is part of a global espionage campaign aimed at gathering information about the military capabilities of countries around the world, three American officials told The New York Times.
According to the sources, the purpose of the spy balloons is to gather information on military bases in the United States mainly, but also in other countries in case a conflict develops or there is an escalation in tensions.
According to them, Beijing operates the balloon program from various locations in China.
At a press conference yesterday (Wednesday), Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said that in recent years the Chinese balloons have been spotted over Latin America, Southeast Asia, East Asia and Europe.
"This is why we appreciate that there is a broader monitoring program," he said.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said at a press conference that the State Department shared information about the Chinese spy balloon program with 12 countries in meetings in Washington or through US embassies abroad. on five continents," he said.
Suspected spy balloon in the sky of the United States, February 3, 2023 (Reuters)
The remains of the balloon are plucked from the ocean (photo: official website, US FLEET FORCES COMMAND)
The remains of the balloon are washed away from the ocean (photo: official website, US NAVY)
Balloons have an advantage over satellites that orbit the Earth in regular patterns, sources familiar with the matter said.
The balloons fly closer to the ground and move with the wind, which is not something that intelligence agencies can predict like the satellite patterns.
They can also slip under the radar.
Simple cameras mounted on the balloon can provide clearer images than those from satellites, and other spy equipment can pick up signals that don't reach the altitude where the satellites travel.
The interception of the balloon over the ocean (Photo: Reuters)
The spy balloon over the United States (Photo: Reuters)
According to the sources, intelligence agencies have developed under the Biden administration a much deeper understanding of the capability and scope of the Chinese balloon program.
In the United States, at least five balloons have been detected - three during the term of former President Donald Trump and two during the Biden administration.
However, the balloons were defined as an unknown aerial phenomenon during Trump's tenure, and only in 2020 did a more extensive investigation begin which found that they were spy balloons.
The United States is informing other governments that they are also aware of the extent of China's aerial espionage attempts.
Deputy Secretary of State Sandy Sherman briefed American diplomats abroad on the balloon program by video conference on Monday, and today plans to discuss the issue in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
American diplomats abroad informed the host countries about the Chinese plan. According to the Americans, the Chinese military has been operating spy balloons for years in Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. According to them, China has violated the sovereignty of the airspace of several countries in this way. China insists that the balloons detected last week in the countries Alliance and Latin America were for civilian purposes, and accidentally flew to these areas.
news
world news
America
Tags
United States
China
Observation balloon
espionage
