Chinese "spy balloon" tried to flee, according to media

NBC News has revealed new details about China's alleged espionage mission. Three anonymous US officials cited by the news outlet claim that China tried to speed up its balloon's flight over the US after the administration of President Joe Biden accused Beijing of sending the vessel to surveil American targets. The Chinese government has maintained that the aircraft was a scientific weather craft that strayed into American airspace rather than being part of an espionage program. The high-altitude aircraft entered US airspace near Alaska in late January and flew over a large swath of the country before being shot down by the US Air Force on February 4. Domestic opponents of President Biden criticized him for a perceived reluctance to take out the Chinese craft, a hesitancy that his administration attributed to safety concerns. The US has a record of identifying potential sources of espionage by Beijing, including exchange students from China, Chinese-made cranes in US ports, and the country's video-sharing platform TikTok.