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.
Top headlines:
- 'The whole house just shook': Witness tells of balloon take down
- US pushes back against China’s weather balloon claims
- China expresses 'strong discontent and protest' after balloon downing
- Mayor of Myrtle Beach criticizes balloon downing
- China has fleet of surveillance balloons, senior defense official says
- Navy, Coast Guard searching for debris off Carolina coast
- Balloon had 'intelligence value,' official says
- Fighter aircraft brought down balloon off Carolina coast: Defense secretary
Secretary of state delays visit
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is postponing his visit to China after the balloon was tracked soaring across the country.
Blinken will delay his upcoming trip to Beijing, originally scheduled for next week. The official noted that Blinken did not want to blow the situation out of proportion by canceling his visit, but also does not want the balloon to dominate his meetings with Chinese officials.
China claims balloon is civilian in nature
The Chinese Foreign Ministry is saying the balloon is civilian in nature and used for scientific research, "mainly meteorological."
"The airship is from China," the foreign ministry said. "Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course. The Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into US airspace due to force majeure."
It continued, "The Chinese side will continue communicating with the US side and properly handle this unexpected situation caused by force majeure."
"Force majeure" refers to something that is done beyond the control of the government.
Surveillance balloon is 'maneuverable,' Pentagon says
After saying the Chinese surveillance ballon was headed eastward, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the balloon is "maneuverable."
"So, the balloon is maneuverable. Clearly, it's violated U.S. air space, and again we've communicated that fact to the PRC," Ryder said.
"The balloon has changed its course, which is why we are monitoring it. That is as specific as I can get," he said, not giving further details on how it could be maneuvered.
"We continue to assess and make appropriate decisions based on how we are going to address what we perceive as a potential threat," Ryder added. "The safety and security of the American people is paramount. At this time we assess it does not pose a physical threat to people on the ground."