A former CIA Agent who worked in image analysis and Chinese counterintelligence talked about what the balloon means for foreign relations.
“The reality is, I think, shocking to a lot of people. A lot of satellites can see the license plate of your car. We really don't need an object as visually out there as this to be able to see that. So, I'm not convinced that it was taking pictures. I think that it was actually collecting something called MASIT, which is measurement and signals intelligence,” said Walder.
Though Walder’s not involved in investigating the balloon, based on its altitude, she believes it was trying to read RADAR and SONAR signals. She said it’s likely the U.S. took steps to block its ability to do so in the days leading up to Saturday when an F-22 fighter jet fired a missile that punctured and downed the suspected spy balloon just off of the South Carolina Coast.
Walder said the government's now likely working to retrieve the balloon's payload or surveillance equipment.“I am very concerned about the damage that China is doing and also about the espionage that they are engaging in,” said Walder."I think we really need to think about how we deal with foreign actors who get caught engaging in this behavior because the reality is that it then provides Americans with a sense of insecurity and then that becomes highly problematic,” she said.
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