A new report has revealed a Chinese spy balloon which was shot down by the US military had gathered intelligence from military bases for days while flying over the United States.
As reported by NBC News, citing several US officials, the balloon was able to transmit information in real-time back to China as it travelled across North America.
The balloon often flew in a figure of eight formation, picking up electronic signals from weapons systems or base personal, the report highlighted.
A White House official refused to confirm the report but did say they managed to limit the balloons’ ability “to be able to collect anything additive”.
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They added that the US government was able to get valuable information about the balloon while it was in US airspace.
The balloon spent a week flying over North America before it was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean on February 4.
Beijing has denied the balloon was on an intelligence gathering mission, insisting it was just a weather balloon and that the US overreacted in shooting it down.
The incident triggered a diplomatic row and saw US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken cancel a trip to China.
US Navy/AP
The US Navy recovers the remains of the shot down Chinese spy balloon.
The US maintains the balloon violated international law by flying into American airspace and that it was carrying equipment capable of intercepting and geolocating communications.
In the weeks after the balloon was shot down, the US shot down several other balloons they suspected were also from China.
The US claims China is operating a fleet of similar balloons in 40 countries around the world.
