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The Journal.

How a Balloon Burst U.S.-China Relations

The Journal.

The Wall Street Journal

News, Daily News, Business News

4.25.8K Ratings

🗓️ 13 February 2023

⏱️ 15 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In just over a week, the U.S. has shot down four flying objects — one from China and three others of unknown origins. WSJ’s James T. Areddy on balloons, unidentified flying objects and the deterioration of relations between the two countries. Further Reading: -China’s Balloon Program Grew From a Humble Start -How a Balloon Opened a New Flashpoint in U.S.-China Ties -China Says U.S. Flew Balloons Through Its Airspace More Than 10 Times Further Listening: -China’s Accidental Dissidents Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Earlier this month, people in Montana spotted a strange object floating in the sky.

0:11.8

What planet is that?

0:12.8

What the heck is that?

0:13.8

It's definitely moving.

0:14.8

It's just floating there.

0:15.8

That's what's the weirdest part about it.

0:18.3

I am sitting in my driveway here in Billings, Montana, and this thing is up in the sky.

0:25.9

The US government also took notice because Montana houses a military base with nuclear

0:32.0

warheads.

0:33.1

The Pentagon says it has detected a Chinese surveillance balloon that entered US air

0:38.0

space and appears to have been sent by Beijing.

0:41.0

The balloon traveled across the country to the coast of South Carolina where a US fighter

0:46.0

jet shot it down into the Atlantic.

0:49.0

But then, about a week later, another unidentified object was spotted over Alaska.

0:53.9

A US fighter jet shot that down.

0:57.2

And then, over Canada, the US military has shot down another flying object over the

1:02.6

Yukon.

1:03.6

Yesterday, it happened a fourth time.

1:07.0

It happened over Lake Huron between Michigan and Canada.

1:12.3

In just over a week, the US has shot down four flying objects, one from China and three

1:18.6

others of unknown origins.

1:21.0

Today, Beijing is claiming the US has been flying its own balloons over China.

...

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