US shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon
Bernama
Februari 5, 2023 
US shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon
The huge, high-altitude Chinese balloon sailed across the U.S. on Friday, drawing severe Pentagon accusations of spying and sending excited or alarmed Americans outside with binoculars. - Larry Mayer/The Billings Gazette via AP
ANKARA: The United States (US) shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon on Saturday which had been spotted above US airspace off the coast of South Carolina.
An operation is underway to recover debris from the balloon in the Atlantic Ocean, according to Anadolu Agency.
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the decision was made at the direction of US President Biden.
"US fighter aircraft assigned to US Northern Command successfully brought down the high altitude surveillance balloon launched by and belonging to China," he said in a statement.
"The balloon, which was being used by China in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental US, was brought down above US territorial waters," he added.
On Wednesday, President Biden gave his authorisation to take down the surveillance balloon as soon as the mission could be accomplished without undue risk to American lives under the balloon's path, it said.
The move came after Biden said his administration "will take care" of the balloon.
The sighting had stirred diplomatic tension, with Washington saying China violated its sovereignty while Beijing regressed the "unintended entry" by a "civilian airship used for research."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken had postponed his planned trip to China following the "irresponsible act."
-- BERNAMA
BEIJING: China expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition towards the United States (US) use of force to attack China's civilian unmanned airship, Xinhua quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement on Sunday.
The Chinese side has, after verification, repeatedly informed the US side of the civilian nature of the airship and conveyed that its entry into the US due to force majeure was totally unexpected, the statement said, noting the Chinese side has clearly asked the US side to properly handle the matter in a calm, professional and restrained manner.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday when answering a relevant query that the civilian airship is used for research, mainly meteorological purposes.
Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course.
According to the statement, the spokesperson of the US Department of Defence also noted the balloon does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.
Under such circumstances, the US use of force is a clear overreaction and a serious violation of international practice, said the statement.
China will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the company concerned, and reserve the right to make further responses if necessary, it added.
According to media reports, the US shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon on Saturday which had been spotted above US airspace off the coast of South Carolina.
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the decision was made at the direction of US President Joe Biden.
The sighting had stirred diplomatic tension, with Washington saying China violated its sovereignty while Beijing regressed the unintended entry by a civilian airship used for research.
-- BERNAMA
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