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Launch of the Chinese balloon off the US east coast
Photo: Chad Fish/AP
The Chinese balloon shot down by the US over its own territory last weekend was apparently able to intercept communications signals.
This was announced by the US State Department.
The balloon is part of a fleet of surveillance balloons that China's military has sent to a total of 40 countries on five continents.
According to the US Department, the findings are based on high-resolution images taken by US reconnaissance aircraft of the balloon.
Accordingly, the equipment of the balloons "clearly for secret service surveillance and not compatible with the equipment on board conventional weather balloons".
Beijing, meanwhile, claims the balloon was only traveling for civilian purposes and inadvertently entered US airspace.
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fek/AP/Reuters
