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Leaked US assessment says China readying supersonic spy drone unit – Washington Post

WASHINGTON, April 18 (Reuters) – A leaked U.S. military assessment says the Chinese military may soon deploy a high-altitude spy drone that travels at least three times the speed of sound, the Washington Post reported late on Tuesday.

The newspaper cited a secret document from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

The document, which Reuters could not confirm or verify independently, features satellite imagery dated Aug 9 that shows two WZ-8 rocket-propelled reconnaissance drones at an air base in eastern China, about 350 miles (560km) inland from Shanghai, according to the newspaper.

The U.S. assessment said China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had “almost certainly” established its first unmanned aerial vehicle unit at the base, which falls under the Eastern Theater Command, the branch of the Chinese military responsible for enforcing Chinese sovereignty claims over Taiwan, the newspaper reported.

The U.S. Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Chinese government could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Washington Post said it obtained the assessment of the program from a trove of images of classified files posted on the Discord messaging app, allegedly by a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, who was arrested last week.

The FBI on Thursday arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the U.S. Air National Guard, over the leaks online of classified documents that embarrassed Washington with allies around the world.

The leaks first became widely known earlier this month, setting Washington on edge about the damage they may have caused. The episode embarrassed the U.S. by revealing its spying on allies and purported Ukrainian military vulnerabilities.

Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen’s recent meeting with U.S. House of Representative Kevin McCarthy had upset Beijing. China, which claims democratically ruled Taiwan is one of its provinces, says Taiwan is the single most important and sensitive issue in its relations with the United States. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

Source: Reuters

Karter Wanda

"Karter Wanda is an online news blogger with a passion for uncovering and sharing stories that matter. With a strong knowledge of online research and news headlines, he has covered a wide range of topics, from breaking news and politics to culture and lifestyle. As an online news blogger, Karter Wanda brings a unique perspective to his writing, combining rigorous reporting with a conversational and engaging style. He is committed to providing accurate and reliable information to his readers and is always on the lookout for emerging trends and stories that are of interest to the online community. In addition to his work as a blogger, Karter Wanda is a regular contributor to globenewsbulletin.com, where he has written in-depth features and analysis on various topics. He is also a sought-after speaker and commentator on issues related to politics."

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