Theories:
1. Bi-sh*t and gang are bought off chinese agents. They knew the balloon was coming, where it would go, and they followed their orders not to shoot it down until it was over the ocean and far more difficult to recover anything useful / allow chinese divers to get there first.
2. Bi-sh*t and gang believe themselves so smart they knew the balloon was coming, where it would go, and allowed it to complete its mission to press up tensions for the coming attack on China via Taiwan [which they intend to spend 10x as WW2 and still lose as the Chinese now have sufficient intel to neuter US military capabilities], as a distraction to the Ukes being overrun by the russkies and the utter and complete failure of the western response [sanctions, weapons, $$$$$, etc].
Problem is that Bi-Sh*t and gang’s decisions and behavior satisfy both theories.
There is no both 1 and 2 answer or All of the above….