An expert at Japan's Defense Ministry has said that the US could take a tougher stance against China after it shot down a Chinese balloon that flew over US airspace.
Takahashi Sugio said that unlike satellites, balloons can stay in the same place and keep collecting information for long periods. He said because they fly closer to the ground, they can take high-resolution images and obtain accurate information on radio and electromagnetic waves.
He also said that the balloon flew over a US military base with more than 100 ballistic missiles, so China might have been trying to find patterns of radio waves and communication around the base.
China expressed strong dissatisfaction that the US military shot down its balloon.
Takahashi said he thinks China had planned to collect the device and data after the balloon reached the ocean.
He also said the balloon's flight over the US mainland has raised fears among US citizens, which will in turn be reflected in US policies toward China.
Takahashi said the US Congress, which has a tough stance on China, may take an even harder line against the country.
Takahashi Sugio said that unlike satellites, balloons can stay in the same place and keep collecting information for long periods. He said because they fly closer to the ground, they can take high-resolution images and obtain accurate information on radio and electromagnetic waves.
He also said that the balloon flew over a US military base with more than 100 ballistic missiles, so China might have been trying to find patterns of radio waves and communication around the base.
China expressed strong dissatisfaction that the US military shot down its balloon.
Takahashi said he thinks China had planned to collect the device and data after the balloon reached the ocean.
He also said the balloon's flight over the US mainland has raised fears among US citizens, which will in turn be reflected in US policies toward China.
Takahashi said the US Congress, which has a tough stance on China, may take an even harder line against the country.
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Summary
U.S.-China tensions escalate as a Chinese balloon is shot down over U.S. airspace by the U.S. military. A Japanese Defense Ministry expert, Takahashi Sugio, notes that balloons can collect information for extended periods and capture high-resolution images. The balloon flew over a U.S. military
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ID: 9f72deed-37c4-40c1-b59f-70109296b294
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230205_13/
Date: Feb. 5, 2023
Created: 2023/02/05 23:09
Updated: 2025/12/09 07:51
Last Read: 2023/02/06 07:46