Bloomberg: Western components found in downed Chinese balloon in the US
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A Chinese aerial probe that flew across the US and was shot down by the country’s military had Western-made components with English inscriptions. About it informed Bloomberg, citing sources close to the US Congress.
Inscriptions about the ownership of components produced in Western countries were found on the balloon itself, the agency writes. However, it is not clear when they were discovered: before the downing of the US military or after the collection of debris. The names of which manufacturing countries were indicated on parts of the probe are not specified.
According to Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, one of the main questions now is whether American or other Western companies helped China produce such probes.
The PRC balloon was discovered over the United States in early February, the Pentagon first reported on it on February 3. At the same time, they said that they did not plan to shoot down the balloon because of the possible consequences for people, but on February 4 it was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean, about 19 km from the coast of North Carolina.
Defense chief Lloyd Austin tried to contact the Chinese defense ministry by sending them a request, but Beijing rejected it, the Pentagon said. The Chinese authorities said the downing of the probe was “clearly an overreaction” and a violation of international practice.
The probe’s route ran close to a strategic bomber airbase and ICBM positions, US officials said. The Chinese side claims that the balloon was only a meteorological balloon.
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