China balloon

A fighter jet flies near a large balloon drifting above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina near Myrtle Beach, Feb. 4. Minutes later, the balloon was struck by a missile from an F-22 fighter jet, ending its weeklong traverse over the United States. China said the balloon was a weather research vessel blown off course, a claim rejected by U.S. officials.

The Chinese balloon saga could be part of a new space race closer to Earth

5:00am March 03, 2023

by Emily Feng

China has put new focus on airships hovering in a part of the sky just before outer space. Although Beijing says they're scientific, analysts say the data helps the country develop advanced weapons.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi in New York City on Sept. 23, 2022.

Blinken meets with China's top diplomat in first meeting since balloon controversy

9:46pm February 18, 2023

by Giulia Heyward

The meeting is the highest level of contact between the two nations since the discovery of a Chinese balloon in U.S. airspace at the beginning of this month.

The Pentagon's multi-billion-dollar program to develop advanced missile warning balloons is just one of many projects over the decades that has been sabotaged by a gusty breeze.

Militaries have sought to use spy balloons for centuries. The real enemy is the wind

4:13pm February 17, 2023

by Geoff Brumfiel

The U.S. government suspects that China's surveillance balloon may have blown off course. It wouldn't be the first time.

A high altitude balloon floats over Billings, Mont., on Feb. 1.

How a Chinese 'spy balloon' prompted the U.S. to scour the skies

2:40pm February 14, 2023

The U.S. and China have traded fiery allegations of extensive aerial surveillance programs since the U.S. shot down a Chinese balloon on Feb. 4. Here's a look at what's happened so far.

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.

China's Defence Minister Wei Fenghe speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 12, 2022

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The Pentagon says China declined a phone call in response to the balloon's downing

7:57pm February 07, 2023

by John Ruwitch

In a sign of continued tense relations, the U.S. says China declined the request for a phone call between top defense officials

The Chinese balloon became the subject of a sketch in the most recent episode of "Saturday Night Live" on Feb. 4.

Hours after its demise, the Chinese spy balloon was the star of the SNL cold open

1:45pm February 05, 2023

by Giulia Heyward

"Saturday Night Live" kicked off its latest episode with an exclusive interview with the downed balloon, played by cast member Bowen Yang.