Spy Balloon

Context

• A high-altitude balloon originating in China entered the United States airspace, causing diplomatic tensions. 
  • The balloon was successfully shot down by the U.S. Air Force.

About

• The USA alleged the balloon to be a surveillance device and accused China of  international airspace violation.
• But the Chinese government claimed it was a civilian meteorological research airship blown off course by winds.

Spy Balloon

• Spy Balloons  were already being used for military purposes. During the French Revolutionary Wars in the late 18th century, balloons were used to provide a bird’s eye view of the battlefield, with there being documented evidence of their use in the Battle of Fleurus in 1794.
• Before aircraft technology really took off during the Great War, balloons were the primary mode of big-picture reconnaissance, providing perspective on enemy positions and movements simply impossible to obtain from the ground.
• Unlike satellites that watch from higher altitudes, spy balloons can watch from lower altitudes.
• After World war II, the US military started exploring the use of high-altitude spy balloons, which led to a large-scale series of missions called Project Genet. 

Tensions between the US and China

• Nancy Pelosi Taiwan visit
• Trade War
• Semiconductor Industry
• Covid-19 Pandemic
• Technology Race
• Emerging Superpower

Source: The Hindu