Chinese Spy Balloons Also Targeted India, Japan: Report

A missile fired from a US fighter jet shot down a Chinese spy balloon. According to media reports, China has in the past used similar spy balloons to target several countries including India and Japan. It was alleged that the Chinese spy balloon had hovered over strategic locations including the nuclear launch facility in the US.

According to a report in The Washington Post, US officials have briefed its friends and allies including India on the finds of the Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot down by a fighter jet off the coast of South Carolina in the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday.

On Monday, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman briefed officials from about 40 embassies in Washington about it.

“The surveillance balloon effort, which has operated for several years partly out of Hainan province off China’s south coast, has collected information on military assets in countries and areas of emerging strategic interest to China including Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines,” reported The Washington Post on Tuesday.

As reported by The Washington Post, unnamed US officials said these surveillance airships, operated in part by the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) air force, have been spotted over five continents. , the daily reported.

According to the American newspaper, at least four balloons have been spotted over Hawaii, Florida, Texas, and Guam during the past few years. Added to it another spy balloon from China was tracked down a week back.