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Chinese balloon and mystery objects raise question of who controls ‘near space’

wsj

3 min read . Updated: 14 Feb 2023, 05:04 PM IST Doug Cameron, The Wall Street Journal

The US downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon raised diplomatic tensions but also regulatory issues about the governance of the sky above levels used by aircraft. (Photo: Reuters) — The US downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon raised diplomatic tensions but also regulatory issues about the governance of the sky above levels used by aircraft. (Photo: Reuters)

Nations govern airspace up to 60,000 feet, but above that no international agreement exists

The U.S. says the suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down Feb. 4 violated sovereign U.S. airspace. But when it crossed the U.S. at altitudes as high as 65,000 feet, the balloon floated into the murky zone aloft where no international consensus exists about which, if any, nation wields control.