White Balloons with a Dark Mission
The United States Proves Chinese Balloons Are for Espionage
White Balloons with a Dark Mission: According to Iran Gate, American defense experts and officials announced that sensors and surveillance technology for intercepting and gathering information were found in the downed balloon, and the FBI will analyze their remains.
They also reported the presence of several active sensors for gathering information, powered by numerous solar panels, and antennas capable of recording and locating communications. All of this was found in a large 60-meter aerial balloon with equipment comparable to a regional jet aircraft with less than a hundred seats.
The Biden administration declassified information obtained from its spy aircraft, which tracked the Chinese balloon closely for days before it was destroyed in U.S. skies, to prove to the American public and the world that this balloon was a serious espionage threat.
Espionage Technology
Washington officials, still working with special FBI teams to collect and analyze the remains of the Chinese balloon that was ultimately shot down over South Carolina waters after passing over Montana, where U.S. nuclear silos are located, declared that they concluded the technology in the balloon was clearly intended for espionage purposes and was not consistent with meteorological or weather balloons, contrary to China’s repeated claims since the balloon was sighted in U.S. skies.
Mysteries remain. One of the goals of the detailed analysis of the recovered remains of the downed balloon is to determine exactly what objectives Beijing was pursuing and whether Chinese scientists succeeded in acquiring advanced U.S. or Western espionage technology. American defense experts have said that Beijing’s balloons should be considered an important part of China’s broader electronic surveillance system.
Spy Balloons and Warfare Platforms
An interesting point is that even balloons not classified as spy balloons and that may seem harmless, like those used for weather conditions and wind currents, can be used for military purposes, for example, to improve missile accuracy.
Washington believes that Beijing is developing more powerful balloon teams using more advanced materials and with more precise and tougher guidance mechanisms to enhance its military capabilities. Among the objectives, in addition to global surveillance of other countries, based on U.S. assessments, is the creation and development of high-altitude platforms for bomb deployment in the event of war.
Near Space Domain
Beijing’s idea is to ensure dominance over the so-called near space, which covers the altitude between 12 to 62 miles above the Earth’s surface. The official Chinese military press defines this area as a strategic region or a major battlefield in modern conflicts. Certainly, spy balloons have specific advantages over satellites, including maneuverability, the ability to hover in specific locations for extended periods, conducting detailed surveys, and the ability to evade detection.
Mobilizing Allies Against Chinese Espionage
The Biden administration is reviewing and preparing new responses to a new challenge. Diplomatic efforts have begun, and the United States has summoned several allied and partner countries to warn them about China’s international espionage surveillance strategy. It was demonstrated how dozens of balloons have flown over five continents, from North America to Europe and Asia. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said during a congressional meeting that the spy balloon story has shown how much more repressive the People’s Republic of China has become within its borders and more aggressive outside them.
New Sanctions
Among the measures now being proposed by Washington are new sanctions against organizations and companies related to China’s armed forces, industry, and defense sectors. These are the organizations behind the production of spy balloons, a network that the United States defines as military-civilian integration.
The Biden administration is also preparing actions against more advanced technologies in China, with regulations to prevent American companies from investing in similar complex technologies, expected to begin in two months. Previously, Biden had also imposed restrictions on the export of technologies deemed critical.