The Chinese “spy” balloon was shot down by the United States

Washington shot down the Chinese balloon which had been flying over the United States for several days on Saturday, February 4, several American media reported.

The balloon, which the Pentagon claims was a spy balloon, was shot down by the US military off the east coast of the United States, according to Fox News and CNN. On the first images broadcast by television channels, the ball seemed to fall vertically.

The Chinese balloon, which the Pentagon claims is a balloon “spy”had been observed on Saturday above North Carolina on the east coast of the United States, according to several American media.

Shortly before, air traffic had been suspended at three airports in the southeastern United States as a measure “national security” announced the regulator of the American civil aviation (FAA). It was one airport in North Carolina and two in South Carolina.

On Saturday morning, US President Joe Biden said the United States would “take care of” of this ball.

Tension

Beijing acknowledged that it was indeed a device from China, but assured that it was a “civil aircraft, used for research purposes, mainly meteorological”.

The device would have “diverted from its trajectory”added a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressing the « regrets » of his country for this violation “involuntary” of American airspace.

The balloon notably flew over the state of Montana (west), which is home to nuclear missile silos, before moving east.

The affair, which has put a damper on relations between Washington and Beijing, caused the postponement of a visit by the head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken to China.