US believes Chinese spy balloon was blown off course after launch from Hainan Island: Military Intelligence had been tracking the Chinese spy balloon since it launched from a base near southern coast of China

New York Post ^ | 02/15/2023 | Victor Nava

[SeekAndFind]

The US military and intelligence community had been tracking the Chinese spy balloon since it launched from a base on Hainan Island near the southern coast of China — and officials are looking into the possibility that it may have drifted off course, according to a report.

US officials told the Washington Post on Tuesday that the balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina earlier this month had been monitored for nearly a week before it penetrated US airspace, and that it initially appeared that the surveillance device was heading toward Guam before it took an unexpected turn to the north.

Intelligence analysts are not sure whether the balloon’s sharp turn north was intentional or accidental, but believe the surveillance craft was likely on its way to spy on US military installations in the Pacific before its path suddenly shifted. 

The balloon wound up floating over Alaska’s Aleutian Islands on Jan. 28 and then entered Canada before strong winds appear to have pushed it south into the continental US on Jan. 31, the officials told the Washington Post, adding that analysts are examining the possibility that China didn’t intentionally direct the spy craft to penetrate the US mainland. 

However, once it crossed the US border with Canada, US officials say, Beijing took advantage of the opportunity to gather intelligence and directed the craft to loiter over Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, which houses one-third of the country’s land-based nuclear missile arsenal.

As the balloon hovered over the Big Sky State on Feb. 1, it was spotted by civilians.

A senior US official told the Washington Post that China’s balloon surveillance program seems to be meant to “augment the satellite systems” the Communist country has in place,

[SeekAndFind]

[SeekAndFind]

Chinese Spy Balloon Had ‘Self-Destruct’ Capability That Wasn’t Activated: Report

[dfwgator]

I don’t believe a damn thing these people say.

[SeekAndFind]

Hainan island: Known as 'China's Hawaii,' the vacation hotspot is also a strategic military base

It’s known as the “Hawaii of China,” a tropical island paradise where the Chinese middle class enjoys sandy beaches, five-star resorts, and duty-free luxury shopping.

It’s also China’s largest free-trade port and host of the Boao Forum, an annual meeting of political and business leaders dubbed “Asia’s Davos.”

But Hainan, China’s southernmost province, is also a strategically important island. And just like Hawaii, it is also home to key military bases.

As American officials reveal more information about the Chinese balloon shot down on February 4 after floating across the US airspace, Hainan, an island thousands of miles away from America, has been brought into focus.

[frank ballenger]

Do not believe them. Chinese Communists are famous for lying and keeping secrets.

[Chad_the_Impaler]

Inscrutable?

[bigbob]

Yeah, it’s maneuverable and under control, then it’s at the mercy of the winds. It’s capable of surveillance but we stopped it from sending data...what a load of BS! Must be that idiot Milley calling the shots.

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

“”Do not believe them. Chinese Communists are famous for lying and keeping secrets.”” And DemocRATS.

I just wonder about the Chicom balloon that was allowed to traverse the USA. I wonder if the Chicoms were just making their latest EFT $$$ transfer/deposit to several Biden accounts across the country. I imagine the 10% for the Big Guy is now 30% and growing.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

How does a balloon have “a course”?

[Right_Wing_Madman]

I don’t believe a damn thing these people say.

I thought these were UFOs from an alien civilization. This is what the Pentagon reported three days ago.

[rx]

They’re lying. Its proulsion system was working against 120+mph tailwinds as it nonetheless with precision lingered over sensitive sites.

[frank ballenger]

And evil like this icon....

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059162/

https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/685/the-mask-of-fu-manchu/#overview

[McGruff]

officials are looking into the possibility that it may have drifted off course,

Let's float that story out there and see if people buy it.

[sit-rep]

ya right... any idiot knows the path of the jet stream so htf is a balloon going to be blown off course!??

[drypowder]

Only a fool would believe anything this Jobama regime would say about anything, especially the DOD, CIA and the FBI.

[frank ballenger]

RE: 120 mph winds....

Sons of the Pioneers sang

Driftin’ along with the tumblin’ tumble weeds.

[frank ballenger]

RE: ....allowed to traverse the USA

Chinese singing star Dai Nah Shore——

See the USA in you Chev-wo-way
America she askah you to come

[WinstonSmith1984]

While we were all looking at spy balloons... we forgot about the fact that the DOJ and FBI paid millions of US Tax dollars to kill Tumps election and that Joe Biden is owned by the CCP.

[DesertRhino]

Do all 17 intelligence agencies and that group of 51 former intelligence professionals agree? ..... again?