<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Chinese spy balloon that traversed the United States earlier this year gathered and reported intelligence from multiple sensitive American military sites despite the Pentagon&#8217;s claims it blocked transmission, according to a new <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/china-spy-balloon-collected-intelligence-us-military-bases-rcna77155" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from NBC News.  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The report, which cites two current American officials and one former administration official, says the balloon was controlled by China, who maneuvered it to make several passes over certain military sites, sometimes in a figure-eight pattern – all while transmitting the gathered data back to Beijing in “real time.” The three officials say the data obtained by China was primarily electronic signals that could be collected from weapons systems or base communications. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the National Security Council was pressed for comment from NBC, the news outlet was directed to remarks made in February by the Department of Defense, where officials claimed the balloon had “limited additive value” to the Chinese “over and above what [China] is likely able to collect through things like satellites in low earth orbit.”</span></p>
<p>Pentagon officials told lawmakers in February that little new intelligence was gathered in the Chinese balloon operation because of U.S. measures to protect sensitive intelligence, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/09/politics/spy-balloon-technology/index.html#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to CNN</a>.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the balloon was able to traverse the country for a week in late January and early February before being shot down, the officials cited said the communist nation could have gathered even more intelligence if the Biden administration hadn’t taken actions to move potential targets around to disrupt intelligence gathering. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The State Department previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chinese-spy-balloon-passing-over-sensitive-sites-could-collect-communications-state-department-reveals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acknowledged</a> the spy balloon had intelligence-gathering capabilities. The balloon flew over Montana, the home of a nuclear missile silo field at Malmstrom Air Force Base. It took a flight path that could have allowed it to collect intelligence at several other sensitive military sites. China claimed it was a civilian airship.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The spy balloon was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean on February 4 when the U.S. military used an F-22 Raptor to down the object with a single air-to-air AIM-9X Sidewinder missile.</span></p>
<p><b data-stringify-type="bold"><a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-17712">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a></b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">General Glen VanHerck, Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), said that the balloon was up to 200 feet tall and weighed “in excess of a couple thousand pounds.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After the balloon was shot down, the U.S. subsequently downed three more unidentified objects over Alaska, Lake Huron, and Canada.</span></p>
<p><em>Ryan Saavedra contributed to this report. </em></p>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Chinese Spy Balloon Collected Intel, Sent Back To Beijing In ‘Real Time’ Despite Pentagon Claims: Report

South Korea Warns U.S. Of Possible ‘Hamas-Style’ Attack From North Korea

Trump Says Chinese President Will See A ‘Feeble And Compromised Politician’ In Biden At Upcoming Meeting

Toilet Paper Replaced With Framed Photos Of Product In D.C. Drugstore As Retail Theft Soars

5 Republican Florida State Legislators Switch DeSantis Endorsements To Trump

GOP Senator Warns Of China’s Ambitions, Says ‘The Dynamic Has Changed Dramatically’

Florida Sen. Rick Scott Endorses Trump For President, Says GOP Should ‘Unite’

News

Balloon

China

Communist China

Global Politics

Spying

World

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Chinese Spy Balloon Collected Intel, Sent Back To Beijing In ‘Real Time’ Despite Pentagon Claims: Report