Unidentified Chinese Balloon Sparks Mystery and Raises Questions about Near Space Control

A recent article published in The Wall Street Journal has highlighted the increasing use of high-altitude balloons by the Chinese military, raising concerns about who controls the near space. The article points out that China's military has been launching these balloons to spy on other countries and to test advanced technologies in the near space, which refers to the region just above the Earth's atmosphere.

The article highlights a specific incident in 2020 when a large Chinese balloon, measuring approximately the size of a football field, traveled across the Pacific Ocean and landed in a rural area of the US state of Montana. The balloon was designed to carry a pod filled with sensors and was suspected to be used for surveillance by the Chinese military.

While the incident in Montana received significant attention from the US government, it is just one example of China's increasing use of high-altitude balloons. The balloons are part of China's expanding space program, which is designed to improve the country's military capabilities and technological advancements.

Experts have expressed concerns about the implications of China's increasing use of high-altitude balloons. They have suggested that the balloons could be used to conduct surveillance and potentially launch attacks on other countries. They have also noted that China's activities in the near space have the potential to destabilize the current international order and could lead to an arms race.

The article highlights the lack of regulation in the near space and the difficulty in monitoring these activities. It notes that the UN's Outer Space Treaty, which governs the activities of countries in space, does not extend to the near space. This has led to a regulatory gap that could be exploited by countries like China.

The article concludes with a warning about the potential consequences of China's expanding space program. It suggests that the US and other countries need to work together to establish regulations and monitoring mechanisms to prevent China's activities from destabilizing the international order.

Overall, the article provides a detailed analysis of the implications of China's expanding space program and the use of high-altitude balloons. It highlights the concerns of experts and the need for regulation in the near space. While the article presents a somewhat alarmist view of China's activities, it is an important reminder of the potential risks associated with the increasing militarization of space.