Context
- A high-altitude balloon originating in China entered the United States airspace, causing diplomatic tensions.Â
- The balloon was successfully shot down by the U.S. Air Force.
About
- The USA alleged the balloon to be a surveillance device and accused China of international airspace violation.
- But the Chinese government claimed it was a civilian meteorological research airship blown off course by winds.
Spy Balloon
- Spy Balloons were already being used for military purposes. During the French Revolutionary Wars in the late 18th century, balloons were used to provide a bird’s eye view of the battlefield, with there being documented evidence of their use in the Battle of Fleurus in 1794.
- Before aircraft technology really took off during the Great War, balloons were the primary mode of big-picture reconnaissance, providing perspective on enemy positions and movements simply impossible to obtain from the ground.
- Unlike satellites that watch from higher altitudes, spy balloons can watch from lower altitudes.
- After World war II, the US military started exploring the use of high-altitude spy balloons, which led to a large-scale series of missions called Project Genet.Â
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Tensions between the US and China
- Nancy Pelosi Taiwan visit
- Trade War
- Semiconductor Industry
- Covid-19 Pandemic
- Technology Race
- Emerging Superpower
Source: The Hindu
