The US shoots down Chinese spy balloon after a week's delay -

Washington/Beijing: The US successfully shot down a Chinese ‘spy balloon’ that had been infiltrating and spying on US airspace since last week. After President Joe Biden’s order, the US F-22 Raptor fighter jet took action against the said balloon using a supersonic missile. The Pentagon has said that it will verify how much confidential information China has collected by seizing the spare parts of the balloon. Moreover, China has warned that the US will face serious consequences for its action on this balloon.

On January 28, China’s ‘spy balloon‘ entered the airspace of the US Alaska province for the first time. After hovering over the Alaska province for two days, the said balloon crossed Canada’s airspace on January 30 and infiltrated the Idaho province of the US on January 31. Besides, US Air Force pilots had noted sighting the said balloon of the ‘high altitude surveillance’ category. But the Pentagon took no action over it. The Pentagon had to disclose this after the videos and subsequent news regarding this white balloon seen in Montana province were reported.

Furthermore, Montana province has a huge US nuclear and missile base. Hence, the province has been claimed to have at least 200 silos of missiles. Therefore, talks had begun that China may have sent this ‘spy balloon’ to gather information about the strategic locations of the United States. However, China’s balloons have travelled at higher altitudes than passenger planes. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder had said that although the balloon travelled through a sensitive area, it was not dangerous. The Republican Party, which controls the US House of Representatives, criticised the Pentagon’s disclosure. Besides, the media also cornered President Biden regarding this Chinese ‘spy balloon’.

Later, an Air Force F-22 Raptor, an advanced aircraft, fired an AIM-9X supersonic missile and announced shooting down the said ‘spy balloon’ near the coastline of South Carolina on Saturday. The Pentagon also released a video of the operation. Also, President Biden said that he had ordered the action against the Chinese balloon on Wednesday, i.e. February 1. But if there would have been action while the balloon was in US territory, there was a possibility that its spare parts would fall on the locals, causing loss of life or property. Therefore, the Pentagon said they took action on the balloon as soon as it entered the sea area. Besides, President Biden has also welcomed the Air Force’s action.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, President Biden will be addressing the State of the Union, i.e. the United States. In addition, analysts in the US claim that President Biden may try to gain political leverage by mentioning the Chinese balloon operation in his speech on Tuesday. But Republican Party leaders have questioned why the Biden administration took this action after a seven-day delay. Moreover, there were claims that the Republican Party may corner the Biden administration regarding China’s ‘spy balloon’ and the issue of confidential documents before the House of Representatives’ investigative committee.

मराठी हिंदी