US Shoots Down Chinese Spy Balloon
The US has shot down a Chinese spy balloon. Watch the video for all the details.
You all know that the US and China are strong enemies. There is always some or the other problem. They show they are friends but back of the mind there is always some problem. U.S. defense and military officials on Saturday said a balloon entered the U.S. air space on Jan. 28 and moved largely over land across Alaska and then into Canadian airspace on 30th January. It crossed back into U.S. territory on 31 January 2023. USA president Joe Biden was then informed about the incident. The balloon was spotted over many US army bases and these also have nuclear weapons. The Americans then realized that it was a Chinese spy balloon. It was 60m (200ft) tall - comparable to a 20-storey building. It was 45o kg heavy. The Americans were able to collect intelligence on the balloon as it flew over the U.S., giving them a number of days to analyze it and learn how it moved and what it was capable of surveilling. The officials said the U.S. military concluded that the technology on the balloon didn’t give the Chinese any significant intelligence.
The United States on February 4 downed the suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast on orders from President Joe Biden. Mr. Biden wanted the balloon downed on Wednesday 1st January 2021 but was advised that the best time for the operation would be when it was over water. Military officials determined that bringing it down over land from an altitude of 60,000 feet would pose an undue risk to people on the ground. The FAA and Coast Guard worked to clear the airspace and water below the balloon as it reached the ocean.Television footage showed a small explosion, followed by the giant deflated balloon descending like a ribbon toward the water.
China has denied any claims of spying and said it is a civilian-use balloon intended for meteorology research. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the balloon’s journey was out of its control and urged the U.S. not to “smear” it because of the balloon.
During a statement, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said another balloon had been spotted over Costa Rica after "severely deviating" and becoming affected by weather. At the time planes were notified but no further action was taken, according to the civil aviation director.
