After a Chinese spy balloon sailed over US and Canadian airspaces, tensions between the US and China are rising. US officials have confirmed the 60,000-foot balloon is part of the Chinese's surveillance and intelligence collection effort, indicating a distinct shift in US-China relations. The Biden administration was briefed on the balloon before it crossed into Alaska, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a Beijing trip in response.

The Chinese action has American experts concerned about a number of implications. The balloon's flight has been used as a test of US air defense capabilities and to identify weaknesses in America’s warning system. Additionally, the intelligence-gathering capacity of the balloon could allow China to identify low-power radio frequencies of US weapons systems. Retired Army Gen. John Ferrari cautioned that this could lead to a more threatening display of Chinese force in the future.

The Biden administration was