Pentagon releases new information about Chinese "spy balloon" data gathering

Washington DC – The Chinese spy balloon shot down by a US fighter jet over the Atlantic in February did not collect intelligence as it flew across the United States, the Pentagon said Thursday.

A US Air Force U-2 pilot looks down at a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon, as it hovers over the Central Continental United States on February 3, 2023.
A US Air Force U-2 pilot looks down at a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon, as it hovers over the Central Continental United States on February 3, 2023.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

"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 spokesperson Pat Ryder.

Ryder said the US "took steps to mitigate" intelligence collection by the balloon.

"Certainly the efforts we made contributed" to that, Ryder said, without further explanation.

China's Xi Jinping extends olive branch to US in statements on looming trade war
China China's Xi Jinping extends olive branch to US in statements on looming trade war

The huge balloon with a large payload of electronics flew over the United States from Alaska in the northwest to South Carolina in the east from late January to early February this year, crossing above sensitive military installations and prompting concerns Beijing was scooping up vital intelligence.

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

Biden plays down Chinese balloon incident

US Navy sailors assigned to Assault Craft Unit 4 prepare material recovered in the Atlantic Ocean from a high-altitude balloon for transport to federal agents at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek.
US Navy sailors assigned to Assault Craft Unit 4 prepare material recovered in the Atlantic Ocean from a high-altitude balloon for transport to federal agents at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek.  © HANDOUT / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP

The incident sparked fresh strains in relations between Beijing and Washington, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceling a long-planned trip to China in February that had aimed to improve bilateral ties.

China had denied that the balloon was to collect intelligence, and said it had strayed off course in entering US airspace.

At the time a US official said the balloon had multiple antennas including an array likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications.

Pentagon chief Austin slams China and North Korea on final trip to Asia
China Pentagon chief Austin slams China and North Korea on final trip to Asia

"It was equipped with solar panels large enough to produce the requisite power to operate multiple active intelligence collection sensors," the official said.

Earlier this month, just ahead of Blinken's rescheduled trip to Beijing, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House played down the whole balloon incident.

"I don't think the (Chinese) leadership knew where it was and knew what was in it and knew what was going on," said President Joe Biden.

"I think it was more embarrassing than it was intentional," Biden said.

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

More on China: