U.S. officials have confirmed that the Chinese spy balloon, which flew over the U.S. in February, transmitted sensitive military information back to China. And it happened in real-time while the balloon was still in the air. 

The balloon first entered U.S. airspace as it flew over Alaska on January 28 before making its way through Canada and re-entering the U.S. over Montana. 

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP)  has continued to deny any such activity. And insist it was a weather balloon that had gone off course. 

Senior U.S. officials reported on Monday that the balloon collected electronic signals, and transmitted data as it flew over multiple military sites.

Chinese obtain sensitive military information

According to defense officials, it was a PRC surveillance balloon that traversed the United States and Canada, purposely seeking to monitor sensitive military sites. The electronic signals that it collected can be transmitted from weapons systems or obtained through communications from base personnel.

The balloon entered U.S. airspace on January 28, flew over Alaska, made its way through Canada, and re-entered the U.S. over Montana. It continued its journey over several sensitive military sites, sometimes flying in figure-eight formations. 

Officials knew the direction the balloon was taking and could proactively shut down its military communication systems to censor signals on the bases before the balloon could access them.

Shooting Down the Balloon

The Chinese spy balloon was eventually shot down on February 4 by the U.S. government. President Joe Biden gave the go-ahead to shoot down the spy balloon, which was the size of three school buses when it was over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina.

The U.S. Navy recovered what remains of the balloon. And the FBI is examining the debris. They are still trying to determine what algorithm was used for the balloon’s software. 

After the balloon was shot down, Biden said the balloon was “not a major breach,” but he added, “It’s a violation of international law. It’s our airspace. And once it comes into our space, we can do what we want with it.” 

 Biden received backlash for not shooting it down earlier. And he claimed that he was waiting to take it down until it posed no risk to civilians on the ground.

China's Denial Continues

Despite the evidence presented by U.S. officials, China has repeatedly denied obtaining any surveillance information. They claim that the U.S. overreacted. And the FBI is still investigating the full extent of the security breach.