spy balloon

A U.S. Air Force pilot looked down at the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon as it hovered over the Central Continental United States February 3, 2023. The pair was flying over Bellflower, Missouri.

This selfie above China's balloon was taken over Missouri. Here's how we know that

8:23pm February 23, 2023

by Geoff Brumfiel

The photo from aboard the Air Force's legendary U-2 spy plane shows the Chinese balloon. But where, exactly, was it taken? It's actually possible to answer that question using clues from the image.

Sailors recovered debris from the Chinese balloon off the South Carolina coast. The other objects shot down has not been recovered.

U.S. and Canada call off search for unidentified airborne objects that were shot down

2:52pm February 18, 2023

by Giulia Heyward

Both the U.S. and Canada have called off searches for three unidentified airborne objects shot down over North America. No debris has been found.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin speaks at a press conference in Beijing on Jan. 11, 2023.

China accuses U.S. of flying spy balloons into Chinese airspace more than 10 times

12:28pm February 13, 2023

by Emily Feng

The accusations made by China on Monday have further ratcheted up tensions between the two countries amid mutual allegations of surveillance.

President Biden stands with Chinese President Xi Jinping before a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit meeting, Nov. 14, 2022, in Bali, Indonesia.

World News

Chinese balloon punctures Blinken's plans, leaving U.S.-China ties adrift

5:59pm February 04, 2023

by John Ruwitch

Secretary of State Antony Blinken called off his trip to China after the discovery of a Chinese "surveillance" balloon over the U.S. It's the latest setback in an increasingly fraught relationship.

Queue Listen Now

A high altitude balloon floats over Billings, Mont., on Wednesday. The U.S. is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over U.S. airspace.

Blinken postpones his Beijing trip after a Chinese balloon is spotted over Montana

9:33pm February 03, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

China's foreign ministry described the balloon as "a civilian airship" for meteorological research that had blown far off course by winds. The Pentagon suspects it's collecting sensitive information.