<h5>What is a spy balloon?</h5>  <p>Spy balloons or surveillance balloons are hot air balloons that have cameras and other gadgets attached to them. Scientists and soldiers mostly use them. They can float quite high in the air, taking images and gathering data about the ground below. It’s like the soldiers or the scientists having another pair of eyes high in the sky.</p>
<p>These balloons provide close-range monitoring, even though it is the age of satellites. The balloons are sometimes left to their own, but they can be attached with "guiding equipment" to control their direction. While satellites continue to be the preferred method of spying from above, these balloons can capture clearer photos than satellites.</p>
<p>Spy balloons can also collect electronic signals and eavesdrop on communications. All these can benefit the people who are using such balloons to spy on other people or countries. Recently, a suspected spy balloon was found floating over the United States of America (USA).</p> <h5>Whoa! Who was behind the suspected spy balloon?</h5> <figure>
        <img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/suspected-spy-balloon-shot-down-by-the-us%2Ffighter-plane-that-shot-down-the-spy-balloon%20(1).jpeg?alt=media&token=21d6481a-8672-4f9d-af50-854d58ebfce4" alt="Whoa! Who was behind the suspected spy balloon?" >
        <figcaption>The fighter plane that shot down the spy balloon. Photo by Jake.</figcaption>
      </figure> <p>For the past few days, the US military was keeping an eye on a suspected Chinese spy balloon that was seen flying over the northern parts of the country. On 1st February 2023, the balloon was sighted over Billings, Montana, USA. The higher officials of the country started monitoring the situation as well.</p>
<p>Later, on 3rd February 2023, the People's Republic of China acknowledged that the balloon hovering over northern America was Chinese. China said that the balloon was a normal research aircraft that was blown off track by strong winds and expressed regret for the event. But, this is where things got interesting.</p>
<p>The US military said that the Chinese spy balloon changed its course later and started flying eastward over the central US. This showed that the balloon was manoeuvrable. This information directly contradicts China's claim that the balloon was only a normal balloon that had wandered into US territory accidentally.</p>
<p>The suspected balloon was likely gathering data on US communication and radar systems. The data obtained by the balloon could have been sent to China. Experts also highlighted that certain military sites are located in Montana and neighbouring states and the balloon could have been spying on them.</p> <h5>How did the United States react to it?
</h5> <figure>
        <img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/suspected-spy-balloon-shot-down-by-the-us%2Fspy-balloon-explodes-after-being-hit-by-a-missile%20(1).jpeg?alt=media&token=d14a2658-4a73-48fa-8a0f-4ba0a225196e" alt="How did the United States react to it?
" >
        <figcaption>The spy balloon explodes after being hit by a missile. Photo by Mattheus Hermanny.</figcaption>
      </figure> <p>On 5th February 2023, the balloon was shot down by the US using a missile from a fighter plane. Local television footage showed a tiny explosion followed by the balloon sinking toward the water. The operation was planned so that all debris fell into the ocean. Ships were sent out to recover as much debris as possible.</p>
<p>US President Joe Biden had earlier decided against shooting down the balloon as it flew over Montana due to worries about the likely distribution of debris harming citizens. So, it was shot down later.</p>
<p>US officials have said that another Chinese spy balloon was seen flying above Latin America. The Pentagon did not mention the specific location of the balloon, but a US official stated that it did not appear to be heading towards the US at the moment.
</p> <h5>What was China’s reaction to the balloon being shot down?</h5>  <p>China expressed great displeasure and criticised the US’s use of force to destroy the balloon. The Biden government praised the decision to shoot it down, but China reacted fiercely and threatened necessary actions against it. China also said the action taken by the US was an overreaction.</p>

Recently, a spy balloon was found floating in the United States. Where was it from and what was it spying on? Let’s read to find out more.

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