The Latest Breaking News from Pat Ryder

Pentagon: China’s conducted spy balloon program for years

Officials say that four previous balloons passed over U.S. territory during the Trump, Biden administrations. China insists the recent balloon was used for weather research.

Chicago Sun-Times · Feb 9, 2023

Chinese balloon was part of years-long spying program, US says

The high-altitude Chinese balloon that crossed over the U.S. last week is just part of a years-long surveillance program with Beijing deploying such craft around the globe, the US said, as officials sought to draw new attention to what they say is an increasingly aggressive Chinese spying campaign.

Tribune News Service · Feb 8, 2023

Pentagon: China's conducted spy balloon program for years

The Pentagon says the Chinese balloon shot down off the South Carolina coast was part of a large surveillance program that China has been conducting for “several years."

The Independent UK · Feb 8, 2023

Where is the Chinese ‘spy’ balloon now?

The balloon was shot down on Saturday afternoon along the East Coast at President Joe Biden’s orders

The Independent UK · Feb 4, 2023

Pentagon: Second Chinese Spy Balloon Spotted over Latin America

The Pentagon announced that a second Chinese spy balloon was flying over Latin America. “We are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America,” Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said, a day after the first craft was spotted over US skies.

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 4, 2023

China balloon: Many questions about suspected spy in the sky

A massive white orb flying across U.S. airspace has triggered a diplomatic maelstrom and is blowing up on social media

The Independent UK · Feb 4, 2023

Chinese balloon soars across US; Blinken scraps Beijing trip

Aside from the government response, fuzzy videos dotted social media as people with binoculars and telephoto lenses tried to find the “spy balloon” in the sky as it headed southeastward over Kansas and Missouri at 60,000 feet.

Chicago Sun-Times · Feb 4, 2023

US postpones Blinken's China visit in uproar over alleged spy balloon

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration postponed Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s upcoming trip to Beijing after detecting a Chinese surveillance balloon that was lingering at high altitude over sensitive nuclear sites in Montana.

Tribune News Service · Feb 3, 2023

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postpones China trip over 'unacceptable' Chinese spy balloon violation

Antony Blinken calls off a trip to Beijing as US authorities describe a high-altitude Chinese balloon flight over sensitive sites as a violation of international law.

ABC News · Feb 3, 2023

US postpones Blinken's China visit in uproar over spy balloon

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration postponed Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s upcoming trip to Beijing after detecting a Chinese surveillance balloon that was lingering at high altitude over sensitive nuclear sites in Montana.

Tribune News Service · Feb 3, 2023