Pentagon confirms Chinese spy balloon downed by US Fighter Jet didn’t gather intelligence during US flight
Pixabay
The Pentagon announced on Thursday that the Chinese spy balloon, which was shot down by a US fighter jet over the Atlantic in February, did not collect any intelligence while flying across the United States.
According to Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder, it has been assessed that the balloon did not gather information during its transit or overflight of the United States.
Ryder stated that measures were taken by the US to mitigate intelligence collection by the balloon, and the efforts made contributed to the absence of data collection, although further details were not provided.
The large balloon, equipped with a substantial payload of electronics, traveled over the United States from Alaska in the northwest to South Carolina in the east between late January and early February this year.
Its path crossed above sensitive military installations, raising concerns that Beijing was gathering critical intelligence. The balloon was ultimately shot down on February 4 near the South Carolina coast and subsequently recovered from the Atlantic Ocean by the US military, which has been examining its contents since then.
The incident strained relations between Beijing and Washington, resulting in Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceling a planned trip to China in February, which aimed to enhance bilateral ties.
China denied that the balloon had any intelligence-gathering purpose and claimed that it had unintentionally entered US airspace after straying off course.
At the time, a US official disclosed that the balloon was equipped with multiple antennas, including an array likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications.
The official also mentioned that it had sufficient solar panels to power multiple active intelligence collection sensors.
In anticipation of Blinken’s rescheduled visit to Beijing, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House downplayed the entire incident.
President Joe Biden expressed the belief that the Chinese leadership was unaware of the balloon’s location, its contents, and the activities surrounding it, stating that it was more embarrassing than intentional.
About Author
