Zhuzhou Rubber denies any connection with downed ‘spy balloon’

Hunan, China – The Zhuzhou Rubber Research & Design Institute Co, under China National Chemical Corporation, has denied it had any connection with the U.S. “spy balloon” incident.

“It is an unmanned airship that is reported, which is not related to our company,” a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

It has developed some world-leading technologies in the manufacture of sounding balloons, also known as weather balloons. Zhuzhou Rubber institute’s sounding balloon can fly at an altitude of 50,000 metres (164,000 feet) – higher than any competitor’s product.

It has 80 per cent of the Chinese market share and its balloons are exported to more than 40 countries and regions, including Russia, France, the US, Germany and Britain, according to the firm’s website.

Increasing demand for balloons for scientific research and other sectors has stimulated the rapid development of the technology in China, according to industrial experts.