US Military shoots down Chinese surveillance Balloon over Atlantic ocean after days of flying over sensitive American military sites
After the Chinese surveillance balloon flew over sensitive American military bases several days earlier, the US Military took it down on Saturday afternoon February 4.
According to reports, the Biden administration was contemplating shooting down a Chinese surveillance balloon, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and closed airspace in North Carolina and South Carolina’s areas of North Carolina. Joe Biden, the US leader, had been called to bring down the balloon since it was first seen hovering above Montana on Wednesday, February 1st. However, national security officials declined to do so citing concerns about the danger to civilians and the possibility of surveillance China might obtain.
On Saturday, as the balloon was spotted over the Carolinas, the FAA ordered all planes in the area to be grounded after reports that Biden was considering a plan to shoot out the balloon as it approached the Atlantic Ocean. Shortly after, the balloon was shot down over the ocean.
It was first seen near Billings in Montana and then continued its journey across the middle of the United States. It was seen over Missouri on Friday night and North Carolina on Saturday.
U.S. authorities have maintained they believe the balloon was intended to conduct surveillance over the U.S. potentially including a nuclear site in Montana. but China has said it was a weather balloon that was blown off track.
U.S. officials on Friday confirmed a second balloon was spotted over Latin America and were working to confirm that it was a Chinese surveillance balloon.
The situation has further strained relations between the United States and China, which were already tense amid the Russia-Ukraine war and questions about the future of Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Due to the breach of territory by the ballon, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a planned trip to Beijing
Republicans had pressed Biden to order the balloon to be knocked out, with former President Donald Trump, who is again running for the Republican party nomination in 2024, urging Biden to “SHOOT DOWN THE BALLOON!” in a Truth Social post.
