[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] It has been revealed that parts manufactured in the West were found in the Chinese reconnaissance balloon shot down over the coast of South Carolina, USA.
According to Bloomberg News on the 9th (local time), Biden administration officials disclosed this during a briefing to the U.S. Congress on the same day.
The Chinese balloon was equipped with parts made in the West, bearing English inscriptions. If it is confirmed that parts made using U.S. technology are included, there is a possibility that the U.S. will implement export controls to prevent this technology from being exported to China. However, it is unclear whether the English inscriptions were discovered before the balloon was shot down or found in the debris afterward.
Earlier, the U.S. shot down an aerial object presumed to be a Chinese reconnaissance balloon after it entered U.S. airspace, deploying fighter jets and other aircraft. The object fell into the sea after being shot down, and the Navy and Coast Guard vessels were dispatched to recover the debris.
The State Department explained that the reconnaissance balloon is related to the Chinese military. It also indicated sanctions by stating that measures against the Chinese company that supported the balloon's infiltration into U.S. airspace are under consideration.
Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has begun analyzing the balloon debris. The FBI transported some of the debris to a laboratory in Quantico, Virginia. A senior FBI official stated, "So far, we have secured balloon fabric, wiring, and a small amount of electronic components," adding, "It is too early to determine the intent behind sending the reconnaissance balloon and how the balloon operates."
In the U.S., one of the main concerns is whether parts made in the West, including those domestically produced, were installed on the balloon.
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