China says it reserves right to respond to downing of surveillance balloon

The balloon's flight over the U.S. added tension to the U.S.-China relationship.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Libby Cathey, Meredith Deliso, Stephanie Guerilus , and Bill Hutchinson
Last Updated: February 4, 2023, 3:35 PM EST

A massive Chinese surveillance balloon that moved across the continental U.S. this week has been shot down.

The Pentagon has confirmed the balloon was being used for surveillance, disputing China's claim that it was a civilian aircraft used for meteorological purposes. Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the balloon didn't pose a physical or military threat, and once it was detected, the U.S. took steps to protect against foreign intelligence collection of sensitive information.

The FBI is expected to take custody of any recovered components of the balloon and ship them to its lab in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis and intelligence gathering, a senior government official told ABC News.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a planned trip to China as the balloon's presence over the continental U.S. added new tension to the U.S.-China relationship. Blinken called the balloon a "clear violation" of U.S. sovereignty and international law.

Top headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Feb 04, 2023, 3:33 PM EST

'I told them to shoot it down,' Biden says

President Joe Biden briefly spoke to reporters after the balloon was "successfully" shot down by the U.S. military.

"I ordered the Pentagon to shoot it down on Wednesday as soon as possible. They decided -- without doing damage to anyone on the ground – they decided that the best time to do that was when it got over water outside within a 12 mile limit."

"They successfully took it down and I want to compliment our aviators who did it, and we’ll have more to report on this a little later," he said.

President Joe Biden gives a thumbs up as he arrives to board Air Force One at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, N.Y., on Feb. 4, 2023.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

"I told them to shoot it down," Biden repeated when asked if the recommendation came from his national security team. "They said to me, 'Let's wait for the safest place to do it.'"

Feb 04, 2023, 2:52 PM EST

Balloon shot down in US airspace: Official

The Chinese surveillance balloon has been shot down in U.S. airspace, according to a senior U.S. official.

It is expected to land in U.S.territorial waters, the official said, adding that airspace will be reopened once it's in the water.

This screen grab from a video shows the moments after military jets shot down the Chinese balloon, on Feb. 4, 2023.
WPDE

-ABC News' Josh Margolin

Feb 04, 2023, 2:33 PM EST

FAA airspace restrictions extended until 3:30 p.m.

The Federal Aviation Administration has closed additional airspace to support the Department of Defense in a national security effort. The agency also paused departures from and arrivals to Wilmington, Myrtle Beach International and Charleston International airports.

The Temporary Flight Restriction is now in effect until 3:30 p.m.

-ABC News' Amanda Maile

Feb 04, 2023, 1:22 PM EST

FAA issues air space closure for parts of Carolinas

The Federal Aviation Administration has closed airspace in parts of North Carolina and South Carolina. All operations at Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Wilmington airports have been paused for national security initiatives.

The alerts are in effect until 2:45 p.m.

The balloon was spotted Saturday over parts of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Northern Greenville county in South Carolina.

-ABC News' Sam Sweeney

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