New York: US soldiers recovered sensors and electronic devices for data collection from the remains of the balloon that was shot down last day. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining these devices, which are believed to have been used for espionage.
It also includes antennas 30-40 feet long, military officials said. While US military officials say the high-altitude balloons were used by China for surveillance, China says they were used for weather monitoring and that they were out of control. However, with the discovery of sensors and devices, China’s argument is falling apart.
Last Monday, a fourth probe was shot down by a missile fired from a US F-16 fighter jet over Lake Huron near the Canadian border. The three probes seen later are smaller than the balloon that appeared first. White House spokesman John Kirby said that the unidentified probes did not pose any threat to the people in the areas where they fell. They were destroyed for the security of the country and not to obstruct the air traffic. The balloon shot down in South Carolina was the size of three buses. The second probe found in Alaska was the size of a car and the one found in the Yukon was cylindrical in shape. An explosive material could be seen at the base of the cylindrical metal probe.
A fourth ark found in Michigan was octagonal in shape and had twisted cords. The wreckage that fell into the sea has sunk and efforts are on to find it. According to the report of the military officers, the delay in finding the wreckage of the probe that was first destroyed was due to bad weather. Efforts to find the wreckage of other wrecked probes are ongoing.
The Canadian Federal Police is also cooperating to find the wreckage of the probe that the missile destroyed in the Yukon border with Canada. The 3,000 square kilometer mountain area is covered with snow, making it difficult to find the remains. The police also informed that it is not possible to find them from a remote area. If the debris has come to the public’s attention, they have been informed to contact the police.
The first balloon came to U.S. attention on January 28 when it reached airspace near the Aleutian Islands. The balloon was dropped when President Joe Biden gave permission to destroy the balloon in a way that would not cause any danger to the people.
Meanwhile, US media reported that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken may discuss the issue with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi at a security conference in Munich, Germany next week. Blinken had canceled his planned visit to China last week after the discovery of the Chinese balloon.