The Chinese balloon had crossed the United States from west to east, from Alaska to South Carolina, before being shot down by an F-22 over the Atlantic Ocean (archives). KEYSTONE/AP Chad Fish sda-ats
This content was published on June 30, 2023 – 01:13 June 30, 2023 – 01:13
(Keystone-ATS)
The Chinese balloon shot down by the United States in February over the Atlantic Ocean had not collected intelligence by flying over American territory, according to the Pentagon. The craft had crossed the country from west to east, from Alaska to South Carolina.
“We believe today that he did not collect information while he was crossing or flying over the United States,” a spokesman for the United States Department of Defense said Thursday. The United States had “taken measures to limit” the obtaining of information by the balloon, he added, which “certainly helped”.
The spokesman did not give further details on these measures. The imposing balloon had passed over strategic military installations.
It had been shot down on February 4 over the Atlantic and its wreckage had been recovered by the American army, which has since studied its contents.
Beijing no
The incident had cast a chill in relations between Beijing and Washington. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a long-planned trip to China.
Washington had assured that it was a spy balloon, which Beijing had denied, saying that it had drifted unintentionally into American airspace.
At the time, an American official claimed that the device had several antennas, some of which were probably capable of picking up and geolocating communications.
In June, however, US President Joe Biden said he thought “Chinese leaders didn’t know” where the ball was or what it contained. “I think it was more embarrassing than intentional,” he added.
2023-06-29 23:13:00
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