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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Chinese Spy Balloon Flies over the United States, Pentagon Says

Joe Biden United States Pentagon Antony Blinken CIA Beijing Marco Rubio China Republican
A high altitude balloon floats over Billings, Mont., on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. (AP)

A Chinese spy balloon has been flying over the United States for a couple of days, US officials said on Thursday, in what would be a brazen act just days ahead of a planned trip to Beijing by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Fighter jets were mobilized but military leaders advised President Joe Biden against shooting the balloon out of the sky for fear debris could pose a safety threat, advice Biden accepted, US officials said.

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