Status: 04.02.2023 21:32
The US shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of North and South Carolina. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense. An operation to salvage the debris is underway.
The US Department of Defense has confirmed the launch of a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic. “This afternoon, at the direction of President Biden, U.S. warplanes successfully downed the People’s Republic of China-launched and owned surveillance balloon at high altitude over the waters off the coast of South Carolina in U.S. airspace,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. Biden had already given permission to shoot down on Wednesday.
The US Department of Defense announced the sighting of the Chinese balloon on Thursday evening. The balloon was sighted over the US state of Montana, Central America and also Missouri. On Saturday, eyewitnesses reported seeing the balloon in the US state of North Carolina, in the eastern United States.
Before the plane was shot down, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had temporarily closed the airspace over the coasts of the two states of North and South Carolina. The Coast Guard instructed ships to leave the area immediately. The reason given was US military operations “which pose a significant threat”. According to the FAA, flights to and from Wilminton, Myrtle Beach International and Charleston International airports can now be resumed.
China: Blinken visit not agreed
China had stuck to the statement that it was a research balloon that had been blown away by the wind. The State Department asked the US not to slander the country because of the balloon. China strictly abides by international law and does not accept unfounded speculation, a spokesman said. “In the face of unexpected situations, both parties must remain calm, communicate in good time, avoid misjudgments and deal with differences,” the statement said.
In response, the United States canceled a trip by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken was scheduled to hold talks in Beijing on Sunday with a goal of reducing tensions between the US and China. Beijing downplayed the importance of canceling Blinken’s planned visit. The US and China have never agreed to visit, the State Department said in Beijing. Instead, the US unilaterally announced the trip, which China respected.
Second balloon over South America
The Pentagon, meanwhile, confirmed reports of a second balloon over South America. “We now take this to be another Chinese observation balloon,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions about a possible second balloon.