You do know that 2 things matter for ELINT? First proximity is importantfor weaker signals not a satellite 100s of miles high second. Timing, becasue satellite orbits, are tracked, sensitive things are sometimes moved,hidden, turned off, shutdown when known satellites pass over. Chinese spy satellites timing is known,
They needed the balloon to get close enough to pick off the signals from the handheld radios and line-of-site communications equipment that were being used.
Damn MLK, a few more posts and you get enough award points for that DNC toaster that burns an image of Karl Marx into every piece of bread. Almost there!
you do know the chinese have their own satellites, correct?
This balloon nonsense needs to be ignored. The chinese spy on the US almost as much as the US spies on them.