**Tensions between the United States and China have escalated in recent days following the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon over US airspace and subsequent military exercises by both countries.**.
The balloon, which was first spotted over Montana on February 1, 2023, sparked a diplomatic crisis between the two countries. The US government accused China of using the balloon to gather intelligence, while China claimed it was a civilian research vessel that had gone off course..
The US military shot down the balloon on February 4, 2023, off the coast of South Carolina. The incident prompted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone a planned visit to China, which was seen as a major blow to efforts to ease tensions between the two countries..
In response to the balloon incident, China has conducted a series of military exercises near Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as its own. The exercises, which included live-fire drills, have raised concerns about the potential for further escalation of tensions between the two countries..
The US has condemned the Chinese military exercises as .
