The U.S. military shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon on Saturday afternoon once it reached the Atlantic Ocean.
The balloon entered U.S. airspace in Montana earlier this week and made its way to the coast of the Carolinas, causing national security concerns and postponing a diplomatic visit to China.
- President Joe Biden said he approved the action on Wednesday, but the Pentagon wanted to wait until it was over water because of the risk to life and property on the ground.
- Military brass said they had determined that the risk to life and property outweighed the risk of what China might see.
- It was shot down with a single missile within the 12-nautical-mile limit of U.S. territorial waters.
- U.S. military ships sailed to the location for recovery efforts.
- The action comes a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his visit to China as he said the "irresponsible act" undermines the point of his visit.
- Blinken, who was scheduled to depart Friday night for Beijing, said he communicated his decision to postpone the visit to Wang Yi, China's highest-ranking diplomat and Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the CCP.
- The Chinese government has claimed the balloon was used for weather research and was blown off course in a case of "force majeure."
- Beijing said it has not broken international laws and that speculating on the balloon's purpose isn't helpful.
- Sen. Jon Tester, who represents Montana, stated that China intends to replace the U.S. as the military and economic leader in the world and that it needs to give explanations regarding this event.
- The Pentagon announced on Friday that a second balloon was flying over Latin America, though it didn't give further location details. It's not expected to reach U.S. airspace.
