Chinese spy balloons have crossed into U.S. territory in the past but the way that this one maneuvered, steering toward sensitive U.S. sites, raised alarms at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, officials said
The appearance of the Chinese balloon caused a political uproar in the United States and prompted the top U.S. diplomat, Antony Blinken, to cancel a Feb. 5-6 trip to Beijing that both countries hoped would steady their rocky relations.
Another U.S. military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the debris would have fallen at least in a seven-mile radius, posing a mortal risk to Americans and potentially damaging infrastructure. One U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the balloon was able to linger in the winds over specific areas.
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman met with senior officials from the embassy of China to convey "a strong set of messages," a senior administration official said. After sightings along the balloon's path, and public uproar swelled, Blinken decided on Thursday to officially postpone his trip to China, according to an administration official. On Friday, the Pentagon said it expected the balloon to keep flying over the United States for several more days.But after those public remarks, the balloon gathered speed, heading toward South Carolina's coast.
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