New crisis between the United States and China on the occasion of the entrance of a ‘spy’ balloon on US soil. This Saturday, two combat planes they shot down “successfully” the device off the coast of South Carolina, in the eastern part of the country. This was reported by Lloyd J. Austin, US Secretary of Defense, who reported that the balloon sought to “monitor sensitive military sites.”
Thus, the United States government affirms that the trajectory of the balloon “contradicts” the explanation transferred from Chinawhich accuses the United States of “exaggerate“in the shooting down of the balloon, showing his”dissatisfaction” with crisis management.
From China, they defend the “civilian character” of the balloon, alleging “completely accidental force majeure” as the reason for its entry into US territory. “The Chinese side clearly requests the US to handle the situation appropriately in a calm, professional and moderate manner“, they added in a statement.
China previously admitted that its ‘spy’ balloon is being used “with research purposes, mainly meteorological“. This new crisis between the two powers has led to the suspension of the trip of Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, to Beijing this weekend.
For the US, China’s explanation “lacks credibility”, calling it “a intolerable violation” of US sovereignty. “It is not the only Chinese surveillance balloon that operates in the Western Hemisphere,” they allege from Defense.
Biden already gave the order to tear it down on Wednesday
The president of United States, Joe Biden, clarified that he already gave the order on Wednesday to shoot down the balloon. “We are taking care of it,” he defended in Syracuse (New York). It was not until the balloon reached the sea that the demolition of the device was carried out.
US forces estimated that shooting down the balloon could cause a risk over a wide area “because of its size, altitude and the usefulness of its surveillance payload.” The perimeter has been secured and search efforts are underway to recover as much material from the balloon as possible.
If any citizen finds remains of the balloon, they must notify the authorities, since it is “a federal investigation.” “Debris must not be touched, moved or lifted“, warned from the Horry County police.
Source: Lasexta
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