The AP reports that the US “is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over U.S. airspace for a couple days, but the Pentagon decided not to shoot it down due to risks of harm for people on the ground, officials said Thursday. The discovery of the balloon puts a further strain on U.S.-China relations at a time of heightened tensions.” Bloomberg reports that the balloon “was loitering over Montana – home to Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile silos – but posed no physical or intelligence threat, a senior Defense Department official said.” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin informed President Biden, “but recommended leaving it alone because of the possible risk of falling debris.”
Full Story (Associated Press); More Info (Bloomberg)
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Chinese spy balloon spotted above over US. | ABC News; YouTube)