What are Chinese Spy Balloons?
And why didn’t the US shoot down the alleged Spy Balloon flying over America right now?
Chinese spy balloons are launched and used by the Chinese government or military for surveillance and intelligence-gathering purposes. The exact nature and capabilities of these balloons are not publicly disclosed, but they are believed to be used for monitoring activities in certain regions or collecting data for intelligence purposes. It’s widely recognized that the United States and China engage in espionage against each other, and a senior U.S. official has stated that the balloon’s capabilities did not seem to surpass those of China’s existing satellites and other methods.
Some may be wondering why the US military refrained from shooting down the balloon. Here, we have to look at the threat assessment made by military and intelligence organizations. Factors that could lead to the decision to shoot down a spy balloon may include the balloon’s location, altitude, and trajectory, as well as the type of equipment or payload it is carrying. The threats posed by spy balloons can vary depending on the specific circumstances, but they can generally include:
- Security threats: If a spy balloon is determined to be operated by an adversary or hostile actor, it could pose a direct security threat to the country or region where it is operating.
- Privacy concerns: Spy balloons equipped with cameras or other surveillance equipment could potentially collect sensitive information or violate the privacy of individuals.
- Aviation safety: Spy balloons that fly at high altitudes can pose a risk to commercial and military aircraft, especially if they are not properly tracked and managed.
- Environmental concerns: The release of high-altitude balloons, especially those that are not properly disposed of, can pose a risk to wildlife and the environment.
With respect to potentially downing this particular spy balloon, US officials concluded that the harm from falling debris was greater than the threat posed by the balloon itself, which they stated was not capable of providing more intelligence than the spy satellites in low Earth orbit already utilized by China. A senior defense official has said that the government’s first consideration was whether the spy balloon posed a physical threat to individuals in the United States or to civilian aviation. Their assessment was that it did not. They also evaluated if the balloon represented a significant enhancement to the intelligence side and found that it did not. Based on this evaluation, they determined that the risk of shooting it down was not worth it, even though there was a low probability of debris falling in a sparsely populated area and causing harm or damage.
The Chinese government has argued that the balloon is used mainly for “meteorological research” and accidentally deviated from its original course. Nonetheless, the incident has already had political implications, with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinkin postponing a visit to China that had been expected to start this weekend.