US shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon

A Reuters witness and US officials said the United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon as it floated off the country's southeast coast on Saturday, drew a spotlight on worsening Sino-US relations.

President Joe Biden authorized a military plan to shoot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon, US officials said, as the government ordered a halt to flights around the South Carolina coast due to what it called an unidentified national security effort The Pentagon did not immediately make a statement.

Washington has called the balloon a violation of US sovereignty.

On Saturday, Biden said that the United States was going to take care of the suspected Chinese spy balloon, but did not elaborate. Biden, asked if the balloon was going to be shot down, gave a thumbs up to reporters.

A Reuters photographer said the suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down over the southeastern US coast. The photographer said there was no explosion and a stream came from a jet.

The photographer said it began to fall.

Military leaders earlier this week had recommended not shooting down the balloon when it was over Montana due to the risk of falling debris, officials said.