Chinese Spy Craft Communication with US Internet Provider
2 min read
Chinese spy crafts have been a topic of concern for many countries, including the United States. Recently, a report revealed that a Chinese spy craft that flew over the U.S. in early 2023 was communicating with mainland China via an American internet provider. This communication was mainly for navigational purposes.
The craft used a U.S. internet provider to receive navigational communications, and two current and one former Biden administration official confirmed this information to NBC News. The internet provider in question denied that the Chinese spy craft used its services, and they had come to this conclusion through their own investigation and discussions with U.S. officials.
The Chinese spy craft was shot down by the U.S. military off the coast of South Carolina on February 4. It was reported that the craft used high-bandwidth data collections known as burst transmissions to send information.
In addition to this, the Biden administration requested a highly secretive order from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to collect intelligence on the craft as it flew over several states. This order would have allowed the government to monitor the spy craft’s communications during its journey.
Several officials have stated that in the past, China has secretly used commercial internet providers in different countries as backup communications networks. Encrypted networks are often sought out for their security.
The Chinese embassy spokesperson, Liu Pengyu, claimed that the craft was a weather balloon that had drifted off-course due to westerlies and its limited self-steering capability. However, the facts are not entirely clear, and it is unclear whether the Biden administration is concealing information about the incident.
Despite assurances from Biden administration officials that the Chinese spy balloon did not collect and transmit data, a previously unreported phone call between President Biden’s top military adviser, Gen. Mark Milley, and NORAD chief Gen. Glen VanHerck sheds light on China’s surveillance balloon. The administration initially hoped to keep the balloon’s existence a secret from Congress and the public.
In conclusion, the Chinese spy craft’s communication with a U.S. internet provider raises concerns about the security of American networks. The Biden administration’s handling of the situation has been questioned, and it remains to be seen whether they are fully transparent about the incident.
