Why would China use a spy balloon when it has satellites?

News of an alleged Chinese spy balloon floating implicit the US has near galore wondering wherefore Beijing would privation to usage a comparatively unsophisticated instrumentality for its surveillance of the US mainland.

China has said the balloon, spotted implicit the authorities of Montana, is simply a "civilian airship" which deviated from its planned route, but the US suspects it is simply a "high-altitude surveillance" device.

Whatever the capabilities of this peculiar balloon, the US has taken the menace earnestly capable to postpone Secretary of State Antony Blinken's sojourn to China, which was owed to instrumentality spot connected 5 and 6 February.

Balloons are 1 of the oldest forms of surveillance technology. The Japanese subject utilized them to motorboat incendiary bombs successful the US during World War Two. They were besides wide utilized by the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

More recently, the US has reportedly been considering adding high-altitude inflatables into the Pentagon's surveillance network. Modern balloons typically hover betwixt 24km-37km supra the earth's aboveground (80,000ft-120,000ft).

"Beijing is astir apt trying to awesome to Washington: 'While we privation to amended ties, we are besides ever acceptable for sustained competition, utilizing immoderate means necessary,' without severely inflaming tensions," autarkic air-power expert He Yuan Ming told the BBC.

"And what amended instrumentality for this than a seemingly innocuous balloon?"

The balloon's anticipated formation way adjacent definite rocket bases suggests it is improbable it has drifted disconnected course, He Yuan Ming said.

But China adept Benjamin Ho said Beijing had much blase surveillance exertion astatine its disposal.

"They person different means to spy retired American infrastructure, oregon immoderate accusation they wanted to obtain. The balloon was to nonstop a awesome to the Americans, and besides to spot however the Americans would react," explained Dr Ho - coordinator of the China programme astatine Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

It whitethorn adjacent beryllium the lawsuit that China wanted the US to observe the balloon.

"It's imaginable that being spotted was the full point. China mightiness beryllium utilizing the balloon to show that it has a blase technological capableness to penetrate US airspace without risking a superior escalation. In this regard, a balloon is simply a beauteous perfect choice," said Arthur Holland Michel from the Carnegie Council for Ethics successful International Affairs.

Nevertheless, the experts constituent retired that balloons tin beryllium fitted with modern exertion similar spy cameras and radar sensors, and determination are immoderate advantages to utilizing balloons for surveillance - main of which is that it is little costly and easier to deploy than drones oregon satellites.

The balloon's slower velocity besides allows it to loiter implicit and show the people country for longer periods. A satellite's movement, connected the different hand, is restricted to its orbital pass.