Felled Chinese spy balloon carried 'devices to intercept sensitive communications': report

09 February 2023

New developments have emerged regarding the Chinese spy balloon struck down by the U.S. Military last weekend.

According to Arizona Central, the U.S. State Department has confirmed the balloon was equipped with "devices to intercept sensitive communications" which serves as "first proof that the balloon was on an espionage mission."

A spokesperson for the State Department also confirmed the Pentagon "flew high-altitude U-2 spy planes to examine the gear dangling from the 200-foot balloon and found that it had the ability to conduct 'signals intelligence collection operations.'"

It was also noted that the balloon's spyware capability was "the size of a regional jetliner," and had "multiple antennas to include an array likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications."

The latest details follow the release of a statement from Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, who offered more details about the balloon shot down near the South Carolina coast on Saturday, February 4.

"In terms of where they're coming from, I can't go into the specific location other than to say China, and the last thing I'll say is that this last week provided the United States with a unique opportunity to learn a lot more about the Chinese surveillance balloon program, all information that will help us to continue to strengthen our ability to track these kinds of objects," Ryder said.

He added, "We know that they were looking to surveil strategic sites, to include some of our strategic bases in the continental United States."

Per the news outlet, a representative for the U.S. Pentagon also weighed in with more details saying, "the Chinese surveillance balloons have varied in both size and capability, but he had no comment on what kind of intelligence they might be collecting, including the one shot down on Saturday."

Not long after Arizona Central published its report on Thursday, the House of Representatives unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution condemning the Chinese Communist Party for its intrusion into sovereign United States airspace. And although some right-wing Republicans had to table their criticisms of President Joe Biden, as the New York Times pointed out, the final vote was nonetheless 419-0.

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