Thread by @AFP

#BREAKING US has communicated with Beijing on the alleged Chinese surveillance balloon shot down on February 4, after Pentagon overtures were rebuffed for days, a defense official says

#UPDATE US officials say they have finally made contact with Beijing over the alleged Chinese surveillance balloon shot down on February 4, after Pentagon overtures were rebuffed for days.

A US warplane shot down a new flying object on Sunday: u.afp.com/imPt

#BREAKING China says US balloons entered airspace 'over 10 times' since Jan 2022

#UPDATE China says US sent balloons into its airspace more than 10 times since January 2022, deepening a row between the two powers after an alleged Chinese spy craft was shot down.

Foreign ministry urges US to "change its course and introspect itself rather than smear... China"

Mystery objects.

#AFPGraphics map of North America showing places were mystery objects have been shot down from the sky since the downing of a Chinese balloon on February 4

#BREAKING US not flying any balloons over China, White House says

#UPDATE The White House on Monday denied Beijing's accusation that the United States has been sending balloons over China to conduct surveillance, as tensions about espionage rise between the two superpowers.

#UPDATE The White House on Monday denied Beijing's accusation that the United States has been sending balloons over China to conduct surveillance, as tensions about espionage rise between the two superpowers ▶️ u.afp.com/imhb

#UPDATE Questions about three unidentified flying objects downed by US Air Force jets over North America in three days intensified on Monday, while Beijing and Washington traded accusations over using high-tech balloons to spy on each other ▶️ u.afp.com/imXi