US authorities are monitoring an unidentified high-altitude balloon traversing the Western US.
While assessed as posing no threat, its origins and purpose remain unknown.
Officials disclosed the balloon was first detected over Colorado and later tracked eastward.
This comes after tensions in early 2023 when the first Chinese surveillance balloon was spotted over Montana, home to a US nuclear missile base.
The US stated it was part of Chinese espionage efforts, while China claimed it was a civilian research balloon that drifted off course.
Subsequently, the US shot down the balloon over the Atlantic after it traversed sensitive sites, to minimize debris risks.
This sparked a diplomatic dispute between the US and China over sovereignty issues and international norms related to the incident.
US-China relations faced increased strain, as high-level talks aimed at reducing tensions were postponed in the aftermath.
