Earlier this year, a Chinese reconnaissance balloon that was shot down after violating U.S. airspace was found to have used the internet network of a U.S. telecommunications company to communicate with its home country.
On the 29th (local time), U.S. NBC News reported, citing multiple current and former officials, that the Chinese reconnaissance balloon shot down earlier this year over the waters of South Carolina was analyzed to have used the internet network of a U.S. telecommunications company.
It was confirmed that the Chinese reconnaissance balloon performed "compressed transmission," sending high-bandwidth data collection over a short period.
The Biden administration reportedly applied for a top-secret order from the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) to secure information collected by the downed balloon while it was in U.S. airspace. Through this order, U.S. intelligence authorities are expected to conduct electronic investigations regarding the time the reconnaissance balloon stayed in U.S. airspace and verify messages exchanged with China, according to the media. The court's decision has not yet been confirmed.
At the time of the incident, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. stated that the balloon was for "weather observation" and claimed it "lacked autonomous navigation capabilities and was unintentionally pushed into the U.S." The Chinese government has consistently maintained this position.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
