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Pentagon

Chinese Balloon Was Part Of Larger Surveillance Program, Pentagon Says

By Matthew Beinart

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

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Chinese Balloon Was Part Of Larger Surveillance Program, Pentagon Says

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 8, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders)

The Chinese high-altitude spy balloon the U.S. shot down over the weekend and several similar incursions in recent years are part of a larger surveillance program run by Beijing, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday. Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, acknowledged that, along with last week’s balloon, there were three such incidents during the Trump presidency and another incursion into U.S. airspace earlier in the Biden administration, which he said has provided key intelligence on China’s…

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