The Chinese balloon that had been flying over the United States for several days was shot down by a US warplane. The big balloon was seen by the Americans as a Chinese espionage tool.
Defense Secretary Austin said the balloon was dropped over the Atlantic. This happened off the coast of South Carolina. Shortly before the action, the Coast Guard warned fishermen to stay away from the area due to military operations that “posed a significant danger”.
The balloon’s remains are being sought in American waters. According to an army spokesman, they spread over an area of 13 kilometers.
A small explosion was seen in pictures on American television. Then slowly but surely the balloon fell. American military planes flew nearby. President Biden said he gave his approval last Wednesday to launch the balloon as soon as possible. The Pentagon recommended doing this as soon as the balloon surfaced.
China: Balloon derailed
The balloon surfaced over US soil last week. China said it was a tool for meteorological research, among other things, and said the balloon went off course. But the Americans insisted that “the obvious purpose was to spy on this balloon.” Therefore, measures have been taken to minimize the risk of receiving sensitive information while passing through strategic locations. Those moments were captured from the ground:
The balloon was seen over the state of Montana, where Malmstrom Air Force Base is located. The USA can launch ICBMs from this base. Then a second balloon appeared over Latin America.
debris
At first, the Americans decided not to launch the balloon for fear of damaging the ground due to falling debris. The Pentagon said the balloon was the size of three school buses and flew about 11 miles.
Foreign Minister Blinken’s visit to China was postponed due to the lawsuit. The minister will be in Beijing tomorrow and Monday to, among other things, talk about Taiwan and de-escalate tensions between the United States and China.
Source: NOS
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
