I think I'm more inclined to believe the PRC line, first impression of the story which I guess a lot of people are just ignoring for :us-foreign-policy:, yeah why would they use a balloon and why would it even be worth the US elevating it to the public if they were.

At the same time, why not just float dubious weather balloons over the continental US? Ultimately it's just going to be embarrassing for everyone involved who makes a big deal of it, especially internationally in the parts of the world China is currently making inroads with often for the first time.

And it wouldn't fucking matter either way lol