US military removes remains of Chinese balloon from sea

In a written statement from NORTHCOM, “US Navy ships assigned by the US Northern Forces Command completed the debris removal operation off the coast of South Carolina on February 16, after successfully finding and removing the remains of the Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon that was shot down on February 4, 2023.” It was said.

The statement said the debris was taken to the Bureau’s Virginia laboratory for examination by the FBI and use for counterintelligence purposes.

China’s high-altitude balloon, which was detected over the state of Montana, where US nuclear weapons are located, shortly after entering US airspace, sparked a diplomatic crisis between Washington and Beijing.

The balloon was launched by a US Air Force F-22 off the coast of South Carolina on February 4.

Following this operation, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, postponed his visit to Beijing.

China claims the balloon was not used for military or intelligence purposes, conducted meteorological surveys and drifted into US airspace.

The United States Department of Defense (Pentagon) claims the balloon has maneuverability and intelligence-gathering capabilities. (AA)