Chinese spy balloon used US technology: Report

The Chinese balloon that drifted across the United States and precipitated a slew of national security concerns regarding the Asian superpower reportedly used American technology to spy on U.S. citizens.

The American-made equipment helped China capture photos, videos, and other information, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited officials involved in the preliminary investigation into the balloon's origin and purpose.

Debris from the balloon, which was shot down in early February, reportedly showed investigators that the Chinese device held commercially available U.S. gear, some of it for sale online, along with specialized Chinese sensors and other equipment.

The new information confirms many intelligence experts' conclusion that the balloon was created for spying, not for weather readings, as Beijing claimed.

"The officials described the Chinese balloon, with its mix of off-the-shelf and specialized equipment, as an inventive attempt by Beijing at surveillance," the Wall Street Journal wrote.