[Epoch Times] The Chinese high-altitude balloon that passed over the United States at the start of February "did a lot of damage," according to Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.In an interview on CBS’s "Face The Nation" program, McCaul said the Chinese balloon was a "sophisticated spy balloon" that "went across three nuclear sites" as it floated over the United States from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4. McCaul specifically noted the balloon passed over nuclear bases in Montana, the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), and a base that hosts nuclear bombers in Missouri.
"The fact is, whether it be the hypersonic weapon they’ve made that circled the world and landed with precision, to the spy balloon, we have to stop selling them the very technology that they use in their most advanced weapon systems that they can turn against us," McCaul added.
Recent reports have indicated the Chinese government has bought U.S.-produced software products for use in its hypersonic missile programs. In recent years, U.S. officials have accused Chinese spies of stealing key technologies, and lawmakers have been considering laws to curb China’s access to sensitive U.S. defense programs.
U.S. defense officials have said they "mitigated" the balloon’s intelligence-gathering capabilities during its transit over the U.S., though they did not specify what means were used to block or reduce the balloon’s ability to transmit sensitive data back to China."They say they mitigated it but my assessment, and I can’t get into the detail of the intelligence document, is that if it’s still transmitting going over these three very sensitive nuclear sites, I think if you look at the flight pattern of the balloon it tells the story as to what the Chinese were up to as they controlled this aircraft throughout the United States going over those sites," McCaul said. "In my judgement it would cause great damage. Remember, a balloon can see a lot more on the ground than a satellite."
