New evidence uncovered by BBC Panorama reveals the presence of Chinese spy balloons flying over Japan and Taiwan, heightening concerns over surveillance activities. Japan has confirmed

the incursions and stated its readiness to take action by shooting down future balloons. However, China has yet to address the evidence directly.

Earlier this year, US-China relations were strained when an alleged Chinese spy balloon was intercepted off the US coast. While China claimed it was a civilian airship for scientific purposes, experts suggest this is part of a broader, ongoing effort spanning at least five years. The specially designed Chinese balloons are capable of long-range missions and have reportedly circumnavigated the globe.

Working alongside Synthetaic, an artificial intelligence company, the BBC analyzed satellite imagery and discovered multiple instances of balloons crossing East Asia. Notably, new images captured a balloon crossing northern Japan in September 2021, possibly launched from deep inside China.

Given the strategic alliance between Japan and the US, the Japanese Ministry of Defense stated it remains vigilant, monitoring the situation daily, and is even willing to shoot down balloons to safeguard lives and property. The US State Department believes the Chinese balloons possess signals intelligence capabilities, equipped with multiple antennas for collecting and geo-locating communications.

To expand the investigation, the Panorama team scoured social media and press reports for UFO sightings in the region, uncovering two photographs from Taiwan's weather service showing a balloon over Taipei in September 2021. Satellite imagery swiftly confirmed the presence of the balloon off Taiwan's coast.

These latest revelations raise concerns about the extent and implications of China's spy balloon program, prompting nations in the region to heighten their surveillance measures and assess potential countermeasures to protect their territories. Photo by Chase Doak, Wikimedia commons.