Pentagon confirms: Chinese balloon did not collect information

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The suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down by the US military over the Atlantic Ocean in February has not collected intelligence, according to the US Department of Defense. This is evident from a statement by Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder during a press conference on Thursday (local time) in Washington.

“As you heard at the time, we knew the balloon had intelligence-gathering capabilities,” Ryder told reporters. “But it was, and is now, our assessment that no collection occurred during transit or overflight of the United States,” the Pentagon spokesman said. “And the efforts we’ve made have certainly helped,” Ryder added, without giving further details.

The alleged spy balloon’s intrusion into US airspace had added tension to the already tense relationship between the US and China. The United States Air Force shot down the balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4 after days of flying over the United States. The United States accused China of espionage, which Beijing denied.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a trip to Beijing over the balloon affair. He made up in June. During Blinken’s visit to Beijing, both sides announced their intention to stabilize ailing relations. Moments later, a statement by US President Joe Biden caused new irritation. Biden had compared China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping to a “dictator”. (SDA)

Source: Blick