Days after the US military shot down a Chinese surveillance craft hovering above vital assets in the country, it is alleged that China had operated a fleet of spy balloons targeting numerous nations, including India and Japan.
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Source: swarajyamag
Indian officials have been informed by US officials about the discovery of the Chinese surveillance balloon that was downed by a fighter jet off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday in the Atlantic Ocean. Wendy Sherman, the deputy secretary of state, informed representatives from approximately 40 embassies about it on Monday.
According to a report published on Tuesday, “the surveillance balloon effort, which has operated for several years in part out of Hainan Province off the south coast of China, has gathered information on military assets in nations and areas of emerging strategic interest to China, including Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines.”
According to officials, these surveillance airships have been detected spanning five continents while being operated in part by the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) air force. A senior defence official was quoted as saying, “These balloons are all a part of a PRC (People’s Republic of China) fleet of balloons developed to perform surveillance activities, which also violated the sovereignty of other countries.”
Source: TIME
In addition to the one recorded last week, at least four balloons have reportedly been seen over Hawaii, Florida, Texas, and Guam in recent years, according to the Daily. Three of the four occurrences occurred within the Trump administration, but the Chinese surveillance airships were only just discovered. The high-altitude surveillance balloon was recovered on Tuesday.
China’s Surveillance Spy Balloons: Controversy and Concerns
The use of spy balloons for intelligence gathering is not a new concept and has been employed by various nations throughout history. The specific use of spy balloons by China is difficult to confirm, as the country’s military and intelligence operations are highly secretive.
However, it is widely reported that China has been using balloons for surveillance and intelligence gathering purposes for many years. Some reports suggest that the balloons are equipped with cameras and other surveillance equipment and are used to monitor borders, track the movements of enemy troops, and gather information on various targets.
Source: gettyimages
In recent years, the use of spy balloons has increased as technology has improved and the cost of operating them has decreased. They are often favored over other forms of surveillance, such as satellites or drones, because they are less noticeable and can stay aloft for extended periods of time.
It should be noted that the use of spy balloons by any country, including China, is controversial and raises questions about privacy and sovereignty. Many countries have expressed concerns about the use of spy balloons and have implemented measures to detect and track them in their airspace.
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