The Chinese balloon was discovered earlier this week and is said to have flew over several “sensitive locations” in the USA.
– We will take care of it, said US President Joe Biden in a comment to CNN on Saturday.
Now the balloon has been shot down by American fighter jets, confirms Joe Biden. The shooting must have taken place in American waters, off the coast of the state of South Carolina. According to AP, an operation is underway to collect the remains of the balloon before they sink into the sea.
– When I received information about the balloon on Wednesday, I gave the Pentagon the order to shoot it down as soon as possible. They decided the best time to do it was when it reached the ocean, Biden told a press conference shortly after the balloon was shot down.
Flight departures were suspended
On Saturday afternoon, local time, the news came that the United States is temporarily restricting airspace over parts of the country’s eastern coastline, AP reports.
Departures from three airports in North and South Carolina, including Myrtle Beach International Airport, were suspended by the Federal Aviation Administration. According to Reuters, the reason was stated to be “supporting the Ministry of Defense in a national security effort”.
According to AP, the US Coast Guard has also advised mariners to leave the area immediately. This is due to US military operations “which pose a significant danger”.
China: “Used for research purposes”
Chinese authorities claim that American airspace has not been violated and that the balloon is being used for research purposes. But US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken disagrees and calls China’s actions irresponsible.
– Our main job is to get the Chinese balloon out of American airspace, he says.
On Saturday, the Pentagon announced that another balloon had been spotted over Latin America.
The text is updated
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