Link Full Video Shows Chinese Balloon Being Shot Down Over Atlantic Ocean
The United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday at approximately 2:40 a.m. ET on Saturday, February 4. The balloon was brought down as it floated over the Atlantic Ocean east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Work is now underway to recover the debris from the balloon, which is flying at about 60,000 feet. Less than an hour earlier, two unnamed US officials told The Associated Press that US President Joe Biden called for the ball to be dropped.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the balloon was shot down, the president said he ordered the shooting down of the ship a few days ago. “I ordered the Pentagon to take it down on Wednesday, as soon as possible,” Biden said. “They decided, without hurting anybody, they decided the best time to do it was when it was crossing the water within 12 miles.”
He reiterated that he had given the order earlier in the week, but that it was the military’s recommendation to wait until the balloon crossed the Atlantic Ocean, because that was “the best thing to do”.
Fox News, which was airing video footage of the balloon floating over South Carolina on Saturday, captured the live moment when the plane was hit by a military jet. “First of all, don’t be rude!” Fox News analyst General Jack Keane (retired) said seconds after the ball was kicked. Other local media and viewers in South Carolina also broadcast footage of the military balloon’s descent, which attracted worldwide attention.
Myrtle Beach news station WPDE, for example, not only received video of the craft going down, but also captured the loud noise of the plane’s missile impact as it plunged into the plane. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed that “United States fighter jets assigned to the United States Northern Command were successful in bringing down a surveillance balloon in the sky”, adding that the balloon was an attempt by the Chinese government to “surveill the sites of located in the Americas. continent”.
Austin also said that after Biden authorized the military on Wednesday to deploy the surveillance balloon as soon as the mission could be accomplished without unnecessary risk to American lives, the Pentagon decided to shoot it down “is an unnecessary risk.” base. people”. ”
Austin concluded, “Today’s deliberate and lawful actions demonstrate that President Biden and his national security team will always put the safety and security of the American people first and respond appropriately to illegal violations.” acceptance of our government by the PRC.”
Laughing off a day of outrage from fellow Republicans over Biden’s “nonsensical” response to surveillance missions crossing US skies, Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) shared Biden’s brief remarks to reporters. “Good news for my fellow Republicans, they can stop freaking out about the balloon now,” Beyer tweeted Saturday afternoon.
Defense officials have told several U.S. media outlets that they have been able to “get a better understanding of China’s intelligence-gathering capabilities” through balloon tracking over the past week. Although they can gather more information after receiving the debris, the Pentagon believes they can prevent the spy balloon from gathering useful intelligence during its flight.
This, of course, comes with criticism from the GOP that the president should have shot down the plane sooner. American warplanes were spotted at the firing range before being shot down. Meanwhile, the FAA has suspended flights to three airports in North and South Carolina until at least 3:30 p.m. ET, citing the reason as “national security policy.”
A few hours earlier, Biden said, “We’re going to do it,” when asked Saturday morning if the United States plans to pull it out of space. The scandal came after Chinese foreign officials said it had never announced Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announcement in Beijing on Sunday, which has now been canceled following a surveillance balloon.
“Of course, the United States and China have not announced a visit, the United States making such an announcement is its own business, we respect that,” officials said in a statement on Saturday. Meanwhile, after canceling the trip, Blinken said he told the Chinese ambassador that the balloon was “an act of irresponsibility”, according to the Associated Press.
On Friday evening, CNN reported that the US military and NASA are in talks to determine where the balloon could be damaged if it is brought down. The news comes a day after the Pentagon spotted a second Chinese surveillance balloon flying over Latin America.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported on Saturday that US officials are now talking.
