The Chinese spy balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina last week was outfitted with antennas and other intelligence-gathering equipment.
The Wall Street Journal claimed that a senior State Department source stated on Thursday that the balloon also carried enormous solar panels capable of powering multiple intelligence-collection equipment.
The most recent US evaluation contradicts China’s claims that the balloon was used for meteorological research.
In an interview with a French news network earlier this week, the Chinese ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, demanded that the United States return the wreckage of the balloon recovered by Navy personnel off the coast of Myrtle Beach.
Le reasoned, “If someone finds something on the street and knows who the owner is, he should return it to the owner.”
Thursday, military, diplomatic, and intelligence officials are slated to brief senators on the incident, coinciding with the insider’s statement.
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