The US, on 4 February, 2023 shot down an unmanned Chinese balloon which strayed into its territory.
The Helium-filled balloon, which had two solar panels and payload the size of two buses, was flying at an altitude of 60 thousand feet (18,300 metres).
China accepted it owns the airship which it says is a weather balloon that was blown-off course by the westerly winds beyond what it’s rudder could control.
It strayed into eastern US seven days earlier, then into Canada and back to US. America says it believes the airship is a spy balloon used by China for surveillance purposes.
President Joe Biden gave orders for it to be shot down on 1 February, 2023 but the Pentagon delayed for it to fly over water to prevent the debris crashing on people or buildings.
An F-22 fighter jet from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia fired one AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile from an altitude of 58 thousand feet to bring it down over South Carolina.
It crashed into the waters 40 to 50 feet deep where two US naval boats were waiting to retrieve it.
Reconstruction work of the debris in a few days, it was hoped, will put an end to what it actually carried as payload and the purpose it was serving.
By the end of June, 2023 at the end of the US investigation, it was found to contain mostly commonly available software and no spyware.
Relations between the US and China had been strained over the incident with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, postponing his official visit to China.
China had described the balloon as an unarmed civilian target and strongly condemned its downing by the US.
Meanwhile, another balloon spotted by radar over Latin America was also claimed by China which urged all nations that it flew over to be calm and not to over-respond as it was only another weather balloon.
On 10 February, 2023 the US shot down another stray balloon over northern Alaska. It was said to have no propulsion system or means of control.
On 11 February, 2023 the US shot down another high-altitude balloon over Yukon territory in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was reported to have invited the US Air Force to shoot it down.
On 12 February, 2023 President Biden ordered the downing of a balloon flying at 20 thousand feet (6,100m) over Lake Huron, Michigan. The downing was justified because the balloon posed a threat to civil aviation at that altitude.
