China spy balloon gathered intelligence about military sites, despite US preventive efforts, report

The Chinese spy balloon that traversed much of the continental United States in early February was reportedly able to gather intelligence from multiple sensitive military sites, despite the Biden administration's efforts to foil any espionage activity.

China guided the balloon to pass over sensitive sites multiple times, even making figure-eight formations at some points, two senior U.S. officials and one former senior administration official told NBC News on Monday. 

The balloon transmitted the information, which was mostly electronic signals, back to Beijing live, the officials said. The electronic signals likely included base communications or were detected from weapons systems.

China could have detected far more intelligence from the sites had the administration not moved potential targets and blocked the balloon's detection ability, the officials also said.

When asked about the report, the Defense Department directed reporters to remarks from February in which senior officials said the balloon's intelligence-gathering abilities were "limited," and were similar to what Beijing is likely able to collect through objects such as satellites.

The U.S. military shot down the balloon over the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 4. The debris was fully recovered nearly two weeks later.