In an unprecedented revelation, a US official has disclosed that the Chinese surveillance balloon, which traversed the United States earlier this year, utilized an American internet service provider to transmit navigation and location data back to China. The connection, discovered by US intelligence agencies, played a crucial role in tracking the balloon's movements and acquiring essential information, according to the official.

The identity of the internet service provider remains undisclosed, as CNN, which initially reported the story, was unable to identify the particular company involved. Previous reports by CNN revealed that the balloon had the capability to establish communication links with Beijing during its journey across the US.

The official clarified that the network connection was not employed to transmit intelligence directly back to China. Instead, the balloon stored pertinent information, including images and other data, which the US has since been able to study extensively after bringing down the balloon in February.

Both the FBI and the Director of the Office of National Intelligence abstained from commenting on the matter. CNN has reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington for their response.

China has consistently maintained that the balloon was a weather balloon that veered off course. However, US assessment at the time suggested that the spy balloon was part of an extensive surveillance program orchestrated by the Chinese military. US officials revealed that the balloon fleet had conducted over two dozen missions across multiple continents in recent years.

It is further believed by the US intelligence community that the Chinese Communist Party leadership did not intend for the balloon to cross over into US airspace. In fact, CNN previously reported that the Chinese leaders reprimanded the operators of the surveillance program following the incident.

Pertinent to this development, President Joe Biden disclosed in June that Chinese leader Xi Jinping was taken by surprise upon learning of the balloon's whereabouts. During a political fundraiser, Biden revealed that Xi "got very upset" after the US downed the balloon, as he was unaware of its presence. In his statement, the president likened Xi to "dictators," highlighting the embarrassment they feel when they are uninformed about unfolding events.

The discovery of the Chinese surveillance balloon's use of a US internet service provider adds a new dimension to the ongoing discussions surrounding national security concerns and the potential infiltration of sensitive data by foreign entities. As the US continues to assess the implications and strengthen its response, the need for robust protective measures is increasingly emphasized.