Why is there a Chinese Spy Balloon

China is using a massive spy balloon to monitor the border with Afghanistan.

A massive spy balloon has been spotted hovering over the Chinese-Afghan border, according to reports. The unmanned blimp is reportedly used by China’s People’s Liberation Army to monitor the border and watch out for illegal crossings. It was first spotted in late August by a group of journalists in the region, who said that it had been there for at least two weeks. The blimp can reportedly stay airborne for up to 10 days at a time.

The Sky Eye 2 drone is part of China’s military surveillance system, which includes satellites and ground-based radar stations, according to South China Morning Post.

What does Sky Eye 2 do?

According to Chinese state media, Sky Eye 2 can be used for a variety of tasks including detecting potential terrorist threats, forest fires and tracking weather conditions.

It can reportedly stay airborne for up to 10 days at a time, although its exact range is unknown.