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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Alex Woodward

What we know about Chinese spy balloons that flew over US during Trump administration

Donald Trump Joe Biden United States John Kirby White House China Jake Sullivan Mao Ning Xie Feng National Security
AP

A recovery operation is underway after a US Air Force fighter jet shot down a high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina on 4 February.

President Joe Biden’s administration and senior military officials revealed that similar crafts had flown above the US in previous years, including at least three times during former president Donald Trump’s administration, as part of what national security officials have described as a years-long Chinese global surveillance programme.

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