In early 2023, Chinese “weather balloons” made more than their fair share of headlines as they flew over Canadian airspace, as well as Alaska and lower Interstate 48. A preliminary multi-agency investigation into one of the balloons shot down off the coast of South Carolina in February has revealed what was inside. The Wall Street Journal said an investigation found the balloons were filled with American technology. In other words, these were not just weather balloons, as China claims, but spy devices using technology from the countries they were spying on.
News of these seemingly low-tech but high-altitude balloons drifting silently across the continental United States became public knowledge in January and February of this year. This was the first time knowledge of these balloons was widely discussed in media reports, but it turns out that China has been floating these devices across the United States since the days of President Donald Trump. Furthermore, subsequent investigations revealed that similar Chinese balloons had flown over territories including Europe and Asia.
What was inside the balloon?
Confounding China’s claim that these intruder airships were simple weather balloons are the various technologies discovered by investigators. The WSJ reported that among the balloon fragments was evidence of numerous U.S.-made devices designed to collect photos, videos, and other information. Some of the components included satellite-like equipment, solar panels for power, propellers, and equipment to collect photos, video, and radar data.
Some US-made intelligence-gathering devices are sold online. However, the preliminary investigation concluded that the Chinese-made balloons were made for espionage purposes, as they contained special Chinese-made sensors and other equipment.
When coverage of China’s reconnaissance balloons was at its peak, there was talk that the airships could collect data in real time and send it to the Chinese government. Those concerns were allayed somewhat by research suggesting the device shot down near South Carolina sent no information to China during its eight-day adventure over the continent. It is not yet clear whether the data was not transmitted due to a software or hardware failure, some other problem with the balloon, or interference by U.S. authorities.
Cool down an already frosty relationship
The US and China are already in the midst of a trade war, with retaliatory sanctions appearing to be implemented against Chinese and US companies. So this new preliminary report showing that Chinese balloons were actually designed for covert espionage does nothing to soothe relations.
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