A Chinese high-altitude balloon that had drifted over the continental United States for at least five days was shot down by a missile fired by a U.S. F-22 fighter jet.

(Associated Press)

Biden's commendation: the military has long been called to do it

[Compilation of Zhang Peiyuan/Comprehensive Report] After the Chinese high-altitude balloon believed to be used for reconnaissance and intelligence search went out to sea from the east coast of the United States, the U.S. Air Force dispatched multiple fighter jets and aerial refueling aircraft on the 4th, and finally an F-22 fighter jet fired a missile to kill it. Shot down, the fragments will be sent to an FBI laboratory in Virginia for analysis.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong dissatisfaction and protest against this on the 5th. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense also called the U.S. move an "overreaction" and threatened to reserve the right to "use necessary means to deal with similar situations."

Balloon fragments sent to Victoria FBI for analysis

This Chinese high-altitude balloon, which has been lingering over the continental United States for at least five days, was launched by an F-22 fighter jet at 2:39 pm Eastern time on the 4th (3:39 am Taiwan time on the 5th). Anti-aircraft missile shot down.

The balloon had just left the land and entered the Atlantic Ocean, about six nautical miles from the coast of South Carolina, USA, flying at an altitude of 60,000 to 65,000 feet. Three airports in North and South Carolina temporarily suspended take-off and landing.

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U.S. President Joe Biden, who earlier promised to "dispose" of the balloon, said on the afternoon of the 4th that he had ordered the military to shoot down the balloon, but the military said it would wait for the balloon to float to a safe place before doing it. hands-on pilot".

U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel will salvage the wreckage of the balloon, which fell into shallow water about 14 meters deep, in order to prove that the balloon is a spy balloon used for reconnaissance, not a weather research balloon as claimed by China.

China lashes out at US 'overreaction'

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement afterwards that China used the balloon to attempt to spy on strategically important locations in the U.S. interior, and the U.S. responded to China's "unacceptable violation of U.S. sovereignty" with "prudent and lawful actions."

In Congress, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer strongly condemned Chinese President Xi Jinping's blatant intrusion into U.S. airspace in a tweet.

Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the Biden administration's response a "catastrophic display of weakness" and called for an explanation from the White House.