The FBI will examine possible debris from a Chinese spy balloon found by fishermen off the coast of Alaska, following the entry of a Chinese surveillance balloon into U.S. airspace in January 2023. The agency is expected to assess the materials once the fishing vessel returns to shore, but officials caution that it's too early to determine its origin or connection to foreign surveillance. The prospect of China spying on the U.S. undetected has sparked political concern, and no decision has been made about where the materials will be taken for further examination.
A year after the US Air Force shot down a Chinese spy balloon, the Biden administration is facing criticism for continuing to keep the FBI's forensic report on the craft's surveillance capabilities under wraps. Representative Darrell Issa has demanded transparency, accusing the administration of failing to provide a satisfactory account to the public and ultimately serving China's interests. Leaked information revealed that the balloon flew over sensitive military sites and civilian infrastructure, raising concerns about potential intelligence gathering for cyberattacks. Experts suspect the balloon may have carried sophisticated surveillance equipment, and the FBI's silence on the matter is seen as surprising and concerning.
A small, nonthreatening balloon flying over Utah was intercepted by a fighter jet, but was determined to pose no threat to national security. NORAD is coordinating with the FAA to monitor the balloon, which was detected at high altitudes. Lawmakers and local officials have been monitoring the situation. This incident comes after the U.S. shot down a large Chinese spy balloon last year, part of a global surveillance program that Beijing has been conducting for several years.
The US military is tracking a high-altitude balloon drifting over the Western US, which has been determined to not be a threat to national security. This comes after a Chinese spy balloon was shot down last year, with the Pentagon confirming its intelligence collection capabilities. The current balloon's origin and purpose are unknown, but it is being monitored by NORAD and the FAA to ensure flight safety.
The Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by the US military off the coast of South Carolina earlier this year was reportedly equipped with off-the-shelf American technology, according to US officials. The balloon, which flew over Alaska, Canada, and the continental US, collected photos and videos but did not transmit the information back to Beijing. The Biden administration believes the balloon may have contained American-made parts. Chinese officials have maintained that the balloon was a weather balloon that drifted off course.
A Chinese spy balloon that flew over the U.S. earlier this year was equipped with American-made technology, allowing it to collect photos, videos, and other information, according to U.S. officials. The discovery was made during a closely held investigation into the incident.
The shot-down Chinese spy balloon may have had synthetic aperture radar, which can see through certain objects, according to leaked Pentagon documents. Synthetic aperture radar is used by organizations like NASA and the European Space Agency to observe the earth's topography and is also used in war to spy on adversaries. The technology can "see" in the dark, as well as through clouds, smoke, soil, and rain. The documents also reveal that certain functions of the balloons are still unknown to US intelligence. A 21-year-old US National Guard airman was arrested in connection to the leaks.
The shot-down Chinese spy balloon may have had synthetic aperture radar, which can see through certain materials, according to leaked Pentagon documents. Synthetic aperture radar is used by organizations like NASA and the European Space Agency to observe the earth's topography and is also used in war to spy on adversaries. The technology can "see" in the dark, as well as through clouds, smoke, soil, and rain. The leaked documents also reveal that certain functions of the balloons are still unknown to US intelligence. A 21-year-old US National Guard airman was arrested in connection to the leaks.
A Chinese spy balloon shot down by the US in February carried solar panels that could generate enough electricity to power a type of radar that can generate images at night and through clouds, according to leaked US intelligence documents. The balloon caused an uproar in Washington and damaged US-China ties when it flew over the US in January and February. It was downed off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4 by a missile fired from a US Air Force jet.
CNN anchor Jim Sciutto faced criticism for a February tweet claiming that the US officials were able to block the Chinese spy balloon from gathering intelligence before it was shot down. However, a recent report from NBC News revealed that the balloon was able to gather intelligence from sensitive American military sites despite efforts from the Biden administration to prevent that. Sciutto updated his tweet without apologizing. Critics have blasted Sciutto for pushing what now appears to be inaccurate information, and the ordeal should raise concerns about what the Chinese learned about the US's most sensitive military installations.
A Chinese spy balloon that crossed into US airspace earlier this year was able to capture imagery and collect signals intelligence from US military sites, and transmit the information back to Beijing in real time. The US government still does not know whether the Chinese government could wipe the balloon’s data as it received it. The US intelligence community has not been overly concerned about the information the balloon was able to gather, as it is not much more sophisticated than what Chinese satellites are able to glean. The surveillance program, which includes a number of similar balloons, is in part run out of the small Chinese province of Hainan.
US officials downplay the significance of intelligence gathered by a Chinese spy balloon that flew over American military installations earlier this year, stating that any signals or electronic intelligence gathered was of "limited intelligence value" and that measures were taken to mitigate Beijing’s ability to collect data. However, a report from NBC News claims that the balloon was able to gather intel from numerous sensitive American military sites, and that China was able to control the balloon to allow it to pass over the sites multiple times while transmitting information back to Beijing in real time. The majority of the destroyed balloon was later recovered from the ocean, and foreign policy experts believe that China successfully gathered U.S. military and technological information through its spy balloon.
A Chinese spy balloon that flew over the United States in February was able to gather intelligence from several US military sites and transmit it back to Beijing in real time, according to NBC News. The balloon, controlled by Beijing, was shot down by the US military on February 4. The incident further strained relations between the US and China, prompting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone a planned visit to Beijing. The Chinese government denies that the balloon was a spy vessel.
The Chinese spy balloon that flew over the U.S. was able to gather intelligence from several sensitive American military sites, despite the Biden administration's efforts to block it from doing so. China was able to control the balloon so it could make multiple passes over some of the sites and transmit the information it collected back to Beijing in real time. The intelligence China collected was mostly from electronic signals, which can be picked up from weapons systems or include communications from base personnel, rather than images.
Disagreements between top military leaders over the handling of the Chinese spy balloon have become public, with Republican senators using the rift to fault the Biden administration for a series of missteps. The debate centers on when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sought military advice on the best way to handle the balloon. Republican lawmakers have said the decision to allow the balloon to continue its trek showed weakness to China. The military ultimately took out the balloon with a Sidewinder missile shot from an F-22 off the East Coast.
