JAKARTA - The US managed to track down the presence of Chinese spy balloons flying across Pamam Sam's skies. In the aftermath, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his visit to China.
Why does China send spy balloons that are easily detected?
The alleged Chinese spy balloon incident raises questions in the minds of many people, why Beijing uses a relatively unsophisticated tool for its control of the US mainland?
China has finally said the balloon - which is seen above the state of Montana - is just a "civil plane" that deviates from the route it should be. But the US remains suspicious it is part of intelligence.
Whatever the ability of this particular balloon, the US takes the threat quite seriously. Even the most severe, Antony Blinken did not fly to China.
Balong is one form of the oldest surveillance technology. The Japanese military used it to launch incendiary bombs in the US during the Second World War. The balloons were also widely used by the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
"Beijing may try to signal to Washington: 'While we want to improve relations, we are also always ready for continued competition, using all the necessary ways,' without very severe tension," said independent air force analyst He Yuan Ming. February 4th.
"And what's better tools for this than the seemingly harmless balloons?"
The anticipated balloon flight path near a certain missile base suggests that the balloon is unlikely to deviate from its path, said He Yuan Ming.
The US Department of Defense said the balloons were significantly above where active civilian air traffic was.
But Chinese expert Benjamin Ho says Beijing has more advanced surveillance technology.
"They have other ways to spy on American infrastructure, or whatever information they want to get. The balloon is to send a signal to America, and also to see how America reacts," explained Dr Ho - China's program coordinator at S Rajaratnam School of International Studies Singapore.
Maybe China even wants the US to detect the balloon.
"It's possible to find out is the point. China may use balloons to show that they have advanced technological capabilities to penetrate US airspace without a serious risk of escalation. In this case, balloons are quite an ideal choice," said Arthur Holland Michel of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs.
Experts say balloons can be equipped with modern technology such as spy cameras and radar sensors. There are several advantages to using balloons for surveillance - mainly cheaper and easier to use than drones or satellites.
Slower balloon speeds also allow it to roam and monitor target areas for longer periods of time. Satellite movement, on the other hand, is limited to its orbital path.
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