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The Chinese Surveillance Balloon Incident in Context: A Conversation with Bonnie Glaser

ChinaPower

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What Makes a Surveillance Balloon More Beneficial Than Satellites?

Why would China want to use a balloon when it has other capabilities for performing surveillance such as the use of satellites? What makes a surveillance balloon more advantageous than these other means? One thing is that balloons are really hard to pick up on radar. The balloons are also maneuverable, so they can be directed over sensitive military sites. But I think that the main purpose here was likely collecting communications, not imagery.

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