Lesson #552

U.S. Navy personnel recover the Chinese balloon after it was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean.
March 6, 2023

How one white balloon escalated tensions between two superpowers

A white balloon floating high above American airspace originated in China. The two sides don't agree on much more than that. The Americans say it was loaded with surveillance equipment and was used to spy on sensitive military sites. China says it was used for weather research and was blown off course. The U.S. shot it down over the Atlantic Ocean, and the two sides are barely speaking. Plus, learn the English phrase "blown off course."