In a world of advanced surveillance technology, including drones and satellites, why would a country use a balloon for spying?
That was the question on everyone’s mind after US defence officials accused China of flying a high-altitude surveillance balloon over the continental United States, prompting Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone his trip to China. China has denied the balloon was used for spying, saying it was used for scientific research and was accidentally knocked off course by westerly winds.
