In early 2023, a Chinese spy craft that flew over the U.S. reportedly communicated with mainland China using an American internet provider, as per a report by NBC News. The craft, shot down by the U.S. military off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4, allegedly utilized a U.S. internet provider for navigational communications. The report did not disclose the provider’s name, but the company denied any involvement after conducting its own investigation and consulting with U.S. officials.
Officials revealed that the spy craft employed high-bandwidth burst transmissions for data exchange. The Biden administration purportedly sought a secretive order from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to monitor the craft’s communications during its journey over several states. The court order was intended to collect intelligence on the spy craft, Fox News Digital reports.
Given the recent news of the Chinese Spy Balloon, known to the Intelligence Community as Killeen-23, using American internet to send data back to China @TieDyeIntel and I reanalyzed our previous maps and created this updated map of its path and sensitive/strategic sites it passed… pic.twitter.com/XUWmwgQAWV
— TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) December 29, 2023
Previous instances indicated that China has covertly utilized commercial internet providers in different nations as backup communication networks, often preferring encrypted networks for enhanced security. The Chinese embassy spokesperson claimed the craft was a weather balloon that had drifted off-course due to meteorological conditions.
Additionally, a Jan. 27 phone call between President Biden’s top military adviser, Gen. Mark Milley, and NORAD chief Gen. Glen VanHerck was revealed, shedding light on the Chinese surveillance balloon. The administration reportedly aimed to keep the balloon’s existence secret from Congress and the public, as per former and current administration and congressional officials. A former senior U.S. official suggested there was an initial intention to study the balloon discreetly and not disclose its presence.
While the Biden administration denied attempting to conceal the incident, citing decisions to protect sensitive intelligence capabilities, the report indicates a discrepancy between public reassurances and a behind-the-scenes effort to keep the spy balloon’s existence under wraps. The investigation raises concerns about foreign surveillance activities and the complex dynamics surrounding intelligence disclosure.
