Chinese spy balloons over US during Trump administration ‘discovered after’ he left office: top Biden official

Information that Chinese spy balloons were flying over the continental United States during the Trump administration was “discovered after” former President Donald Trump left office, a senior administration official told Fox News.

On Saturday, a Defense Department spokesman said Chinese spy balloons flew briefly over the United States at least three times during the Trump administration.

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Trump and a number of his senior national security and defense officials have denied the claim, telling Fox News Digital that it “never happened.”

But on Sunday, a senior administration official told Fox News Digital that “US intelligence, not the Biden administration” estimates that “PRC (People’s Republic of China) government surveillance balloons briefly flew over the US mainland at least three times during the previous administration.” and once of which we know at the beginning of this administration, but never during this period of time.”

An official told Fox News that “this information was discovered after [Trump] administration is gone.

“They went unnoticed,” a Fox News Digital official said.

The official explained that the Chinese reconnaissance balloons are “part of a larger scheme.”

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“These balloons are all part of the PRC’s fleet of balloons designed to conduct surveillance operations that also violate the sovereignty of other countries,” the official explained, adding that these activities are “often carried out at the direction of the People’s Liberation Army.” “

Former President Donald Trump
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci/File)

The official said that over the past few years, Chinese balloons have been seen flying over countries on five continents, including East Asia, South Asia and Europe.

Chinese spy balloon crashed off the coast of Hawaii 4 months ago

“Two things could be true at the same time: it happened and it wasn’t discovered,” a Fox News Digital official said.

Photographs of a downed Chinese spy balloon taken in Ainora, South Carolina.
(Fox News)

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Meanwhile, US officials told Fox News on Sunday that a Chinese spy balloon crashed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii four months ago. Those officials said at least one Chinese spy balloon flew over parts of Texas and Florida during the Trump administration.