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.

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.


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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.

-ABC News' Josh Margolin


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


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


Biden on Chinese spy ballon: 'We're going to take care of it'

President Joe Biden on Saturday made his first public comments on the Chinese surveillance balloon flying over the continental U.S.

Biden, who is traveling to New York, was asked by a reporter if there were plans to shoot the balloon down.

"We're going to take care of it," he responded.


China slams those who 'took advantage of the issue'

The Chinese Foreign Ministry posted a new statement in a form of a Q&A on their website early Saturday and slammed those taking advantage of the massive surveillance balloon.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his upcoming trip to China, but the ministry claimed the visit had never been announced.

"As a matter of fact, neither China nor the US has announced any visits. It is the US's own business to release relevant information, and we respect that," the statement read.

They also reiterated their denial that the surveillance balloon was being used to spy on the U.S., insisting that China has always abided by international law and that the balloon deviated from its scheduled route.

"This was completely an accident caused by force majeure, and the facts are very clear," the statement continued.

The United States, elected officials and the media were also accused by the ministry of taking advantage of the incident.

"Some politicians and media in the United States took advantage of the issue to attack and discredit China. China firmly opposes it," the statement read.

-ABC News' Karson Yiu and Britt Clennett