Shock twist in Chinese spy balloon mystery

The contents of the floating device that caused chaos when it crossed over the US have finally been revealed.

The Chinese spy balloon that caused chaos when it crossed over the US in 2023 was packed with US-made technology that could have enabled it to spy on Americans, it has been revealed.

Two sources told Newsweek that the balloon, which hovered over the US before it was eventually shot down by the US over the Atlantic Ocean in February 2023, was secretly equipped with satellite communication modules and sophisticated sensors.

The Chinese spy balloon in the sky over Billings, Montana. Picture: AFP

The discovery of US-made tech from at least five American firms underlined the failure of US efforts to restrict exports of technology that could have military uses to China as well as to countries such as Russia and Iran, Newsweek reported.

The investigation uncovered a Chinese patent that showed Beijing had already mapped out exactly how to use American satellite technology to control spy balloons and harvest sensitive data, according to Newsweek.

The Pentagon stated last February that the balloon was “likely” a “hobby balloon”.

A US Navy officer observes the debris field of the surveillance balloon after it was shot down on February 4, 2023. Picture: AFP

In June 2023, The Pentagon determined that the balloon had not collected intelligence as it flew across the US.

“It’s been our assessment now that it did not collect while it was transiting the United States or overflying the United States,” said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder at the time.

The incident strained relations between Beijing and Washington at the time, with former secretary of state Antony Blinken cancelling a long-planned trip to China that had aimed to improve bilateral ties.

China had denied that the balloon was used to collect intelligence, and said it was a civilian airship “used for scientific research such as meteorology” that had strayed off course in entering US airspace.

Originally published as Shock twist in Chinese spy balloon mystery