The United States and China have recently competed with each other in the field of intelligence.

(Reuters)

[Central News Agency] The Pentagon said it was tracking a Chinese reconnaissance balloon flying over the continental United States, which attracted attention because it appeared in the land-based nuclear powerhouse of the United States and on the eve of Secretary of State Blinken's visit to China.

Experts say reconnaissance balloons could complement satellites.

● Where the scout balloons are

The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, said the balloon was seen earlier this week by people on a commercial flight flying over the U.S. state of Montana after passing through the Aleutian Islands and Canada.

Montana is home to land-based nuclear missile silos in the United States, and the Pentagon said the balloons flew over "sensitive" areas.

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● What is a spy balloon

Experts said that some countries used balloons as a reconnaissance tool in the past few decades, especially at the height of the Cold War.

Craig Singleton, a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies think tank, said the missions of the balloons are diverse, including reconnaissance, tracking missile threats and communication link nodes.

The Pentagon also turned more money to high-altitude balloons last year, in part because of their potential to track hypersonic weapons, Singleton said. tool of the Cold War".

● How the US responds

A high-level U.S. official said that President Biden has been briefed on the matter and asked his staff about military options. However, senior Pentagon officials suggested not to shoot down the missile because the debris may harm civilians on the ground.

● What information does the Chinese want to collect?

The "Wall Street Journal" pointed out that at this stage, it is not clear what the Chinese side wants to search for.

Given the failure of U.S. air defense systems to detect the balloon, it is likely that the balloon did not use radar or other electronic sensing devices that would reveal whereabouts.

China is actively developing these new types of balloons and spacecraft.

In May last year, an official Chinese scientific research unit announced that the self-developed "Jimu-1" III spacecraft was launched from the camp at an altitude of 4,300 meters, reaching 9,032 meters at one point, surpassing the height of Mount Everest at 8,848 meters, and creating spacecraft atmospheric science Observe new records.

Also last year, the Chinese authorities issued certificates for three special-configuration hot air balloons developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). In response to sanctions, AVIC said the new hot air balloons were for civilian use.

● Where is the balloon now

A senior defense official said that the balloon was still hovering over the United States on the evening of the 2nd, but he did not disclose the current location or direction of the balloon, saying only that the balloon's movement was being tracked.

U.S. officials say China has sent surveillance balloons to the U.S. mainland on a few occasions.

In recent years, high-altitude balloons have also appeared in the sky over Japan, including a balloon with a cross-shaped object flying over the northeastern region of Japan in 2020. At that time, the Japanese Ministry of Defense claimed that it was closely monitoring the balloon.

● Why do artificial satellites still use balloons

Expert circles say that balloons are far cheaper than spy satellites and have a longer cruising time in the air. They can move slowly and observe specific areas for a long time, which is used to complement the shortcomings of artificial satellites.

U.S. companies including Aerostar have been developing high-altitude balloons for military and civilian customers for decades for reconnaissance or communication purposes, especially in areas lacking satellite coverage.

The Pentagon's defense innovation arm has contracted Aerostar to develop military-grade balloons, which the company says can stay in place for weeks or even months, using solar panels to recharge the batteries on the balloons.

● The timing of Blinken’s visit to China is sensitive

The event coincided with a scheduled meeting by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Eve of visiting Beijing this weekend.

U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal that the State Department had summoned senior officials at the Chinese embassy in the United States to "deliver a clear and straightforward" message.