China’s Spy Balloon Reportedly Part Of Global Surveillance System; Photos From Wreckage Released

The U.S. intelligence agency has reportedly linked it Chinese A spy balloon was taken down last week as part of a huge surveillance program by the Chinese military against various foreign nations.

The Washington Post reported that the balloon surveillance program operates out of the Hainan province in southern China and has targeted military assets in countries that are in Beijing’s crosshairs, including Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

According to the report, five continents were covered by the spy balloon operated by the Chinese military. U.S. officials have alerted military officials in other nations that they were being monitored by China.

China’s military saw an opportunity to monitor balloons flying above commercial jetliners, at altitudes of between 60,000 and 80,000 feet. It’s unclear why China conducts the program since they can reportedly collect the same intelligence from their military satellite system, the report said.

The U.S. military used an F-22 Raptor Saturday to down the spy plane over the Atlantic Ocean. A single air-to-air missile, the A9X sidewinder, was fired at an elevation of approximately 58,000ft. After President Joe Biden had allowed the spy balloon to fly thousands of miles above the United States, the decision was made to shoot it down.

The U.S. Navy released photos Tuesday of the spy ballon as it was being recovered off the coast South Carolina by naval forces.

📍ATLANTIC OCEAN – @USNavy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 sailors recover a high altitude surveillance balloon off Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), Feb. 5, 2023. pic.twitter.com/QwjSFQEw1b

— U.S. Fleet Forces (@USFleetForces) February 7, 2023

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