US Intel Claims Chinese Spy Balloon Program Suspended—Here's Why

U.S. intelligence officials claim that China already suspended its spy balloon program. Numerous sources familiar with the assessment of U.S. intelligence explained why there are no more Chinese spy balloons being launched.

US Intel Claims China's Spy Balloon Program is Suspended

(Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Two white balloons float near the Chinese flag as activist Rev. Patrick Mahoney protests against the Chinese government over the alleged Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot down over the US last week.

According to CNN Politics' latest report, U.S. intelligence officials think that the surveillance program of China, which involves spy balloons, has been suspended.

They stated that the reason behind this suspension is the recent action of the U.S. government to take down the Chinese spy balloon in February.

Ever since American fighter jets shot down the controversial Chinese spy balloon, U.S. intelligence has not seen a single spy launch from China.

The alleged suspension of China's spy balloon program comes as Beijing and Washington make efforts to stabilize their increasingly tense relationship.

Previously, Time Magazine reported that the Chinese spy balloon in February could be a part of a worldwide espionage effort of Beijing.

Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon's spokesperson, claimed that China's high-altitude spy balloons have been spotted in South America, Latin America, Europe, as well as other parts of Asia in the past few years.

However, the U.S. intelligence community thinks that China didn't intentionally maneuver the spy balloon to enter the U.S. air space.

China's Spy Balloon in the US Wasn't Intentional

(Photo: BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images) The silhouette of a paramilitary guard (L) is seen as he stands at attention as the Chinese flag is raised during a ceremony at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on August 8, 2008, on the morning of the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The U.S. intelligence community said that the Chinese government wasn't aware that its surveillance balloon entered the United States air space.

One of the U.S. intelligence sources explained that the Chinese Communist Party leaders even reprimanded the operators of the controversial spy program.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden also confirmed that Chinese leader Xi Jinping was surprised when he was informed regarding the spy balloon's whereabouts in February.

In a previous political fundraiser, Biden said that the Chinese president was upset when the U.S. government decided to take down the surveillance balloon.

Since the recent spy balloon takedown was embarrassing to the Chinese government, experts said that it is unlikely for China to launch new surveillance aircraft.

Christopher John, a former CIA analyst focusing on China, explained that although Beijing doesn't confirm that the spy balloon was part of its surveillance program, the U.S. will no longer see Chinese surveillance balloons entering its air space.