Chinese language Spy Balloon Did Not Collect Information Over US: Pentagon

The Chinese language spy balloon shot down by a US fighter jet over the Atlantic in February didn’t acquire intelligence because it flew throughout america, the Pentagon mentioned Thursday.

“It’s been our evaluation now that it didn’t acquire whereas it was transiting america or overflying america,” mentioned Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.

Ryder mentioned the US “took steps to mitigate” intelligence assortment by the balloon.

“Actually the efforts we made contributed” to that, Ryder mentioned, with out additional clarification.

The large balloon with a big payload of electronics flew over america from Alaska within the northwest to South Carolina within the east from late January to early February this yr, crossing above delicate navy installations and prompting considerations Beijing was scooping up important intelligence.

It was shot down on February 4 simply off the South Carolina coast, and was recovered from the Atlantic ocean by the US navy, which has been learning its contents since.

The incident sparked contemporary strains in relations between Beijing and Washington, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelling a long-planned journey to China in February that had aimed to enhance bilateral ties.

China had denied that the balloon was to gather intelligence, and mentioned it had strayed astray in coming into US airspace.

On the time a US official mentioned the balloon had a number of antennas together with an array possible able to accumulating and geo-locating communications.

“It was geared up with photo voltaic panels giant sufficient to supply the requisite energy to function a number of lively intelligence assortment sensors,” the official mentioned.

Earlier this month, simply forward of Blinken’s rescheduled journey to Beijing, the place he met Chinese language President Xi Jinping, the White Home performed down the entire balloon incident.

“I don’t suppose the (Chinese language) management knew the place it was and knew what was in it and knew what was happening,” mentioned President Joe Biden.

“I believe it was extra embarrassing than it was intentional,” Biden mentioned.