U.S. Mulls Shooting Down Chinese Spy Balloon Over Atlantic Ocean

According to Fox News, the U.S. may consider a plan to shoot the Chinese spy balloon down once it crosses the Atlantic Ocean. It could then fall without causing any harm below and possibly be recovered. 

According to the Associated Press, officials stated that it is not clear if President Biden has made a decision regarding the plan. Biden spoke briefly to the balloon Saturday to answer a reporter’s query, saying: “we’re going to take care of it.” 

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at 3 airports in North and South Carolina and closed airspace in North and South Carolina until 2:45 E.T. “national security initiatives” The area. 

The surveillance balloon was seen most recently flying over the Southeast United States Saturday. It was also seen in North and South Carolina on its way to the Atlantic coast.

Biden was briefed about the situation earlier in the week and requested military options to take down the balloon. Pentagon officials warned against shooting it down above the United States. They also cautioned that falling debris could cause damage to infrastructure and civilians.

Brian Branch took this photo. A large balloon is seen above Kingston, North Carolina, with an aircraft and its contrail below. 
(Brian Branch via AP)

Officials from the Pentagon revealed Thursday that a surveillance balloon was in operation Believed to be Chinese. The balloon was seen flying over Montana. China’s foreign ministry confirmed that the balloon was Chinese Friday. They claimed it was a civilian weather plane that had blown out of course.

Senior State Department officials The claim was refuted by the Chinese surveillance craft, which it identified as Chinese and called its presence in U.S. aviation space an “anonymous”. “unacceptable” Violation of American sovereignty The incident led to Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, to postpone his planned trip to China to meet President Xi Jinping. “irresponsible” In a telephone call on Friday with Wang Yi, his counterpart. 

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed Blinken’s decision not to cancel the trip, even though diplomatic relations are tensed following the incident.

“In actuality, the U.S. and China have never announced any visit, the U.S. making any such announcement is their own business, and we respect that,” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Saturday morning.

This report was contributed by The Associated Press.