U.S. intelligence agencies believe China has suspended all surveillance balloon operations since the U.S. shoot-down of a spy balloon in February

Chinese leaders have deliberately decided not to order any additional flights since the U.S. shoot-down of a high-altitude spy balloon in February further inflamed tensions between the great powers.

China continues to deny the existence of a global spy balloon program, maintaining the balloon was civilian-operated weather airship blown off course by strong winds.