Chinese spy balloons have made frequent appearances in the past few years—thrice during the Trump administration and twice during the Biden administration. But it has never been downed before (Representational image)|Nescolet|CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The suspected Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down by the F-22 Raptor fighter jet off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday. The Navy divers are searching for the debris.
The geopolitical fallout
The Chinese government considers the move an “excessive reaction” to what it claims was a high-altitude weather balloon that got blown off its course. Denouncing the US decision to shoot down the balloon, China’s Foreign Ministry said it, “retains the right to respond further.”
Not the first timeChinese spy balloons have made frequent appearances in the past few years—thrice during the Trump administration and twice during the Biden administration. But it has never been downed before.
President Joe Biden faced criticism from Republicans, who said he did not act sooner.
The President had ordered the Pentagon to down the balloon on Wednesday. However, military leaders advised him to wait till the balloon crossed civilian areas.
What’s next
With the geopolitical tensions between China and the US already making waves in sectors like automobiles, chip manufacturing, and social media, to name a few—which are considered soft power—downing the balloon signals the use of hard power by both sides.