US President Joe Biden spoke about the downing of the Chinese “spy balloon” in US airspace after disembarking at the Maryland airport in Washington. “When I was briefed on the balloon on Wednesday, I instructed the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) to take it down as soon as possible.” Biden said the Department of Defense is waiting for the “best time” to avoid harming anyone while the balloon is over the mainland.
Biden stated that the best time to lower the balloon was when the balloon was within 12 miles of territorial waters and congratulated the soldiers who carried out the operation.
‘SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS ALWAYS AT THE FOREIGHT’
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also issued a written statement on the fact that the Chinese “spy bubble” in the US sky was shot down by US military jet planes when it came over the Atlantic Ocean in American territorial waters.
Austin reported that the Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon was successfully shot down over the territorial waters of South Carolina by US Northern Command warplanes this afternoon, at the instruction of President Biden.
“The balloon used by China to spy on strategic areas on the US mainland was dropped over US territorial waters.” Using his statements, Austin said that Biden ordered the balloon to be lowered on Wednesday when it took an appropriate route, so as not to risk the lives of Americans.
Austin stated that the American army commanders decided that dropping the balloon while on land would create an “unnecessary risk” due to the size, altitude and surveillance capacity of the balloon, so they developed options to safely lower the balloon.
Noting that the balloon’s route and intelligence gathering activities were also closely followed in this process, Austin said that the action to lower the balloon was carried out with the coordination and support of the Canadian government.
In his statement, Austin thanked Canada for its contribution to the monitoring and analysis of the balloon by the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) as it passed through North America.
“Today’s planned and legitimate action demonstrates that President Biden and his national security team will always prioritize the safety and security of the American people, while effectively responding to China’s unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” the Defense Secretary said. used the phrase.
THE LAST TENSION BETWEEN USA AND CHINA: SPY BALLOON
The Pentagon announced on February 2 that the high-altitude intelligence balloon allegedly belonging to China was flying over the US mainland and that the American army was following the balloon.
Chinese officials stated that the balloon was a Chinese civil aircraft, was used for meteorological research, and accidentally entered the US airspace by being dragged by the winds.
US Department of Defense officials said, “We are aware of China’s statement, but we know it is a surveillance bubble.” had used the phrase.
On the balloon crisis, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that he would postpone his visit to Beijing on February 5-6. (AA)