Chinese spy balloon: all you need to know about a World War I relic

What is a surveillance balloon?

Cheap, quiet and difficult to reach – balloons have long been used for reconnaissance purposes, including in conflicts such as the American Civil War. The practice became widespread during World War I and was used extensively during the Cold War, when America released hundreds of balloons To gather intelligence on the Soviet Union and China. While their use has decreased with the rise of unmanned drones and satellites, many countries still use spy balloons. The Pentagon is expanding investment in high-altitude inflatables, Politico reported last year. Modern balloons, like America’s balloons, have the ability to not only capture images but also to disrupt communications. They can also extend cellular service and the range of drones and other military assets. A senior Biden administration official told Bloomberg News that the balloon has a small motor and propeller, which sets it apart from other devices that are typically not steerable.

What do we know about the balloon that was shot down?

According to US Defense Officer The payload of the balloon is the size of several buses. It first passed over US sovereign airspace north of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska on 28 January. It traveled east across the northern part of the state, then into the far northwest of Canadian airspace on January 30. It moved back over the southern United States again over northern Idaho on January 31.

The Biden administration revealed the balloon’s existence on February 2, as it floated over the western state of Montana. The location is sensitive, as the state is home to the Air Force’s 341st Missile Wing and its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles.

In turn, China’s Foreign Ministry denied that the balloon was used for surveillance, instead stating that it was a civilian airship used for meteorological and other scientific research. It said that due to the airship’s limited maneuverability and westerly winds, it accidentally flew into the US. In response, US defense officials said they believed the balloon was a surveillance device monitoring sensitive military sites.

How was the balloon shot down and why wasn’t it done earlier?

After the balloon passed into the ocean off the coast of South Carolina across Central America, the US sent up a single F-22 fighter to 58,000 feet (18,000 m) which fired an Aim-9X Sidewinder missile. The balloon, which was floating between 60 and 65,000 feet, was shot down at 2:39 a.m. on 4 February, within US airspace. No advance notice was given to China before the balloon was shot down.

While US President Joe Biden initially authorized the shooting down of the balloon on February 1, it was on condition that it be accomplished without undue risk to US citizens below. This meant that the action could only take place while it was traveling over water. Officials considered bringing down the balloon as it floated over sparsely populated areas of Montana, but that plan was put on hold for safety reasons. A “large-sized” object could cause widespread damage, he said. In fact, when it was shot down it created a debris field within a radius of seven miles.

Was the balloon a safety hazard?

US officials have stressed that the balloons have limited ability to collect meaningful data in addition to what the Chinese can already collect through their satellite network. Still, Biden administration officials have told Bloomberg News they believe Chinese surveillance balloons are able to photograph features from different angles than satellites, providing a unique advantage. Dirigibles can also be deployed unpredictably – so the US has less time to hide the assets they are expected to keep secret – and often have infrared sensors that provide different information than satellites. Are. US defense officials also said they were able to “take immediate steps to protect the ballooning collection of sensitive information,” reducing its intelligence value to China. The US has also said it has learned technical details about the device and its surveillance capabilities, adding that more information could potentially be obtained in a “relatively short time” after it is recovered from the sea.

Why has China sent the balloon up now?

The Chinese have for decades complained about US surveillance by ships and spy planes near their territory, leading to occasional confrontations over the years. According to US defense officials, Chinese government surveillance balloons crossed the continental US at least three times during the Trump administration and once at the beginning of Biden’s term.

But it’s not clear why the balloon was flying over the US, and the devices have never been seen flying for so long. The fly-by came days before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due to visit Beijing. The conflict thwarted China’s diplomatic efforts to create a constructive backdrop for the first US Secretary of State visit to China since Michael Pompeo’s visit in 2018.

More broadly, the US has said the balloons are part of a fleet developed by China, with another found in Central and South America. They have been seen over the years in countries in East and South Asia as well as Europe, spanning five continents.

How have the US and China responded?

The Biden administration decided to postpone Blinken’s upcoming visit to Beijing, saying that going now would send the wrong signal. Blinken said at a press conference announcing the delay, “China’s decision to fly a surveillance balloon over the continental US is both unacceptable and irresponsible – that’s about it.”

In turn, China called on relevant parties to handle the matter “calmly”. The top envoy, State Councilor Wang Yi, called for timely communication to avoid misunderstandings during talks with Blinken on 3 February. But China’s Foreign Ministry opposed it. shooting down the balloon, accusing the US of a “blatant overreaction” that violated international practices. It also said that it reserves the right of reply.

It is unclear what this means for relations between the two countries. Biden and his administration have faced criticism from Republicans, who say his administration is weak on China, and should have gotten rid of the balloon immediately. This could mean more Congressional pressure on China to act tough and another round of retaliation that could spiral out of control.

On the other hand, some experts believe that the decision to postpone rather than cancel Blinken’s visit reflects the US’s desire to maintain open channels of communication. Some officials in the Biden administration believe both countries have reasons to put the event behind them, despite the potential difficulties.

The text of this story is published from a wire agency feed without any modification. Only the headline has been changed.