Key Points
- The balloon had been flying at about 60,000 feet (around 18,000 metres).
- Authorities worked to clear the airspace and water below the balloon as it reached the ocean.
- The Pentagon had previously estimated that any debris field would be substantial.
China is protesting the US downing of a Chinese balloon, saying the action violates international norms and it reserves the right to take further action in response.
"The US in insisting on the use of force is an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice. China will resolutely uphold the relevant company's legitimate rights and interests, at the same time, reserving the right to take further actions in response," according to a statement from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday morning.
The US military shot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon on Saturday after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America.
An F-22 fighter jet fired a missile at the balloon, puncturing it while it was about 6 nautical miles (around 11km) off the coast near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, senior defence officials said.
"They successfully took it down and I want to compliment our aviators who did it," President Joe Biden said after getting off Air Force One en route to Camp David.
Mr Biden had issued the order for the balloon to be brought down as early as Wednesday. He was advised that the best time for the operation would be when it was over water, US officials said. Military officials said bringing it down over land from an altitude of 60,000 feet (around 18,000 metres) would pose an undue risk to people on the ground.
The presence of the balloon in the skies above the US this week prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to abruptly cancel a high-stakes Beijing trip aimed at easing tensions.
The Chinese government on Saturday sought to play down the cancellation.
"In actuality, the US and China have never announced any visit, the US making any such announcement is their own business, and we respect that," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The size of three school buses
Television footage showed a small explosion as the balloon was shot down, followed by it descending toward the water.
An operation was underway in US territorial waters in the Atlantic Ocean to recover as much debris spread over about 11km as possible before it sinks into the ocean.
The balloon was estimated to be the size of three school buses. The Pentagon had previously estimated that any debris field would be substantial.
Aviation authorities issued a temporary flight restriction to clear airspace around the South Carolina coast.
The notice blocked flights to more than 260 square kilometres — mostly over the Atlantic Ocean, with a warning the military could use deadly force if aeroplanes violated the restrictions.
Defence and military officials say they were able to collect intelligence on the balloon as it flew over the US for a number of days, including how it moved and what it was capable of surveilling.
Republicans have been critical of Mr Biden's response.
"Allowing a spy balloon from the Communist Party of China to travel across the entire continental United States before contesting its presence is a disastrous projection of weakness by the White House," said Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Senator Thom Tillis tweeted: "Now that this embarrassing episode is over, we need answers from the Biden Administration on the decision-making process. Communist China was allowed to violate American sovereignty unimpeded for days. We must be better prepared for future provocations and incursions by the CCP."
Senator Lindsey Graham was more positive: "Thank you to the men and women of the United States military who were responsible for completing the mission to shoot down the Chinese surveillance balloon. The Biden Administration did the right thing in bringing it down."
China earlier denied any claims of spying and said it was a civilian-use balloon intended for meteorology research. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that the balloon's journey was out of its control and urged the US not to "smear" it because of the balloon.
The Pentagon rejected that out of hand — as well as China's contention that it was not being used for surveillance and had only limited navigational ability.
Second balloon spotted over Latin America
Meanwhile, the Pentagon said another Chinese balloon was observed over Latin America, without saying where exactly.
"We now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon," Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement on Friday.
China is keen for a stable US relationship so it can focus on its economy, battered by the now-abandoned zero-COVID policy and neglected by foreign investors alarmed by what they see as a return of state intervention in the market.
