It has been alleged that China used high-altitude balloons to spy on Latin American nations. Chinese authorities may be able to access nearby networks, listen to conversations, monitor military and strategic locations, and even access these balloons' cameras, sensors, and antennae.
The Pentagon is concerned about the Chinese balloon that was seen over the US this week because it is thought to be a scientific research-purposed surveillance device. Chinese surveillance balloons have been seen hovering over the northwestern United States in the past, crossing over into American airspace and being classified as unidentified aerial objects, according to US officials.
China expressed regret over the balloon over the US, saying it was a weather airship that had been blown astray. In a statement on Saturday, the Chinese foreign ministry said Beijing "never violated the territory and airspace of any sovereign country".
It added that Beijing "would not accept any groundless conjecture or hype" and accused "some politicians and media in the United States" of using the incident "as a pretext to attack and smear China."
According to US officials, the airship floated over Alaska and Canada before appearing over the US state of Montana, which is home to a number of sensitive nuclear missile sites.
A spy balloon is a type of aerial surveillance platform that uses a balloon or blimp-like device as a means of lifting a camera or other sensor payload into the air. Spy balloons are often used by military or intelligence organizations for reconnaissance and surveillance missions, as they can provide a relatively low-cost and unobtrusive way to gather intelligence from a high altitude.
Some spy balloons are equipped with high-resolution cameras, while others may carry radar systems, communication relay equipment, or other types of sensors. The use of spy balloons has been controversial in some cases, as they can raise privacy concerns when used for surveillance of civilian populations.
President Biden has promised to “take care of it” and the US military is looking into the matter to ensure the safety of the American people.
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