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In February, the US Navy released images of what was believed to be a Chinese spy balloon, which had been shot down by the military. The pictures displayed fragments of the balloon being loaded onto a vessel, which would then transport them to an FBI facility for examination.
FBI releases photos of agents processing the suspected Chinese spy balloon
FBI Underwater Search Evidence Response Team (USERT) Members ready equipment to recover material from the ocean floor.
(Source: FBI) pic.twitter.com/xPpk8kZ3EY
— P a u l ? (@ybarrap) February 9, 2023
Initial reports from high-ranking officials stated that the balloon offered only marginal additional value for intelligence gathering by the Chinese government, as the information it could collect was likely already obtainable through methods such as low Earth orbit satellites.
Today, US military officials have finally admitted that a Chinese spy balloon, which entered American airspace earlier this year, successfully obtained critical information on military assets ad had been reporting it back to China.
Turns out the Chinese spy balloon did a really good job of spying on the United States and the Biden administration did a really good job of allowing that to happen. pic.twitter.com/XlKBMd0upl
— ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) April 3, 2023
According to three officials, the Chinese-controlled balloon was able to fly over various sites, even in figure-eight formations, and transmit the collected data to Beijing in real-time. The intelligence gathered was primarily electronic signals, such as those emitted by weapons systems or communications among base personnel, rather than imagery.
The Chinese spy balloon that flew across the U.S. was able to gather intelligence from several sensitive American military sites, despite the Biden administration’s efforts to block it from doing so, according to two current senior U.S. officials and one former senior…
— ???AstraLight ? (@iamABMaples) April 3, 2023
The officials also noted that the administration’s efforts to relocate potential targets and restrict the balloon’s ability to detect electronic signals limited the amount of intelligence gathered from sensitive locations.
The Defense Department referred to comments made in February, which downplayed the balloon’s intelligence value for the Chinese government, claiming it was not much greater than what could be obtained through low Earth orbit satellites. Despite China’s assertion that the balloon was an unmanned civilian airship that veered off course unintentionally, this has proven to be inaccurate.
The Biden admin wasted critical days until they decided to shoot the Chinese Spy Balloon down.
Now we find out they were UNABLE to stop China from collecting intel and transmitting it to Beijing.
Biden continues to put our national security at risk.
— MarMar0307 (@MMar0307) April 3, 2023
After the balloon was brought down in February, the Biden administration acknowledged its signals intelligence capabilities. Images released by the US Navy displayed the debris from the shot-down balloon being transported to an FBI facility for evaluation.
US Northern Command leader, Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, divulged alarming information about the Chinese spy balloon during a call with journalists. He reported that the 200-foot tall balloon carried self-destructive explosives, weighed thousands of pounds, and had a payload comparable in size to a jetliner. VanHerck highlighted that the decision to safely shoot down the balloon over water provided an opportunity to better understand its capabilities.
They’re finally reporting what we all knew, the Chinese spy balloon was collecting all sorts of data.
They lied and told us the were “jamming” it’s signal.
They let it traverse the entire country, circling sensitive sites.
Joe Biden is compromised. We demand impeachment, NOW.
— Jon DeMaria (@StealthMediaHD) April 3, 2023
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby supported President Joe Biden’s choice to delay shooting down the Chinese craft until it was over South Carolina’s coastline. Although Biden ordered the balloon to be shot down on a Wednesday, the US military waited until Saturday to deploy an F-22 fighter jet armed with an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile for the task.
"This Chinese spy balloon actually was able to transmit this data back, in real-time, to the Chinese government," CNN reported.
"That raises questions about whether the U.S. government actually knows the full extent of what the balloon was able to gather." pic.twitter.com/vKQMfBSufD
— Becker Clips (@NewsBecker) April 3, 2023
Chinese spy balloon was able to get intelligence on US military sites: Report pic.twitter.com/U9yIkiE5Gk
— Military Specimen Royal De La New World Rosa (@GinoDeLaRose) April 3, 2023
If you don’t believe @POTUS has been compromised, you better think again!! He let a Chinese spy balloon fly over the US https://t.co/yg5SlzPLJy
— Dans Your Man ? (@DJCoy601) April 3, 2023
How many times are Americans going to allow the government to put our national security at risk?
Re Chinese spy balloon ALLOWED too traverse our air space:
'…did collect intelligence on…sensitive military sites… including ICBM silos at Montana’s Malmstrom Air Force Base' pic.twitter.com/pVA5rSTOWD— Intolerant Leftists (@IntolerantLeft4) April 3, 2023
#ChineseSpyBalloon completed it’s mission to spy on military bases… pic.twitter.com/vnfDcnYPif
— KSummers (@Kalosums) April 3, 2023
