China sacks weather bureau chief in shake-up after balloon furore

A purported spy balloon that strayed into US airspace has set off tense exchanges between the US and China. - The Straits Times/ANN

BEIJING, Feb 6 (Bloomberg): China replaced its national weather bureau chief just after the United States revealed a balloon that Beijing said was meant to gather climate and meteorological data was flying over its territory.

was flying over its territory, fueling speculation that the move was connected to Beijing’s claim it was a climate research vehicle.