US Navy ‘Unknowingly’ Tried Shooting Down A ‘Spy Balloon’

US Navy divers are currently trying to recover the remains of the Chinese spy balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina.

The balloon was brought down by a missile fired from an F-22 fighter plane at a distance of around six nautical miles from the shore near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

General Glen VanHerck, commander of the North American airspace defense command and US northern command, said that the US Navy is attempting to retrieve the balloon and its payload while the Coast Guard is ensuring the operation’s security.

Civilian authorities in Horry County, close to where the balloon was shot down, advised locals that while US Military personnel work together to recover debris, fragments may still make it to the coastline.

The debris is dispersed over a seven-mile stretch, and recovery ships are being utilized to collect it. The Pentagon is employing the expertise of Navy divers to search the chilly waters in an apparent attempt to collect every piece of the balloon.

According to the New York Times, recovered debris would be delivered to law enforcement and intelligence officials for analysis.

The Department of Defense stated that several US Navy and Coast Guard warships are establishing a security perimeter around the region where the balloon landed on earth.

The operation was described as “fairly easy” by a military officer who did not give a completion date. The Navy has sent numerous ships, such as the destroyer USS Oscar Austin, the cruiser USS Philippine Sea, and the amphibious landing ship USS Carter Hall, to aid recovery efforts.

The Times reported that the US officials considered deploying a big net or hook to retrieve the balloon before opting to down it with a missile.

However, military brass advised US officials that attempting to capture the balloon while it was flying at 60,000 feet in the sky was not a good idea.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin said that the decision to shoot the balloon down once it was over water shows that President Biden and his national security team will always prioritize the security and safety of the American people while taking effective action in response to China’s unacceptable violation of USA’s sovereignty.

However, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly objected to the USA’s use of force in attacking the unmanned civilian airship and voiced its strong dissatisfaction.

The ministry said, “the United States insisted on using force, clearly overreacting.” The statement said China would steadfastly protect relevant enterprises’ legitimate rights and interests and retain the right to take additional necessary measures.

Chinese balloons had previously been sighted over nations on five continents, including East Asia, South Asia, and Europe, over the past several years.

Despite not being the first time in recent history that such an airship has crossed US territory, a senior defense official said this was the longest time one had ever spent there. During Donald Trump’s presidency, three balloons were reported, while one was discovered earlier during the Biden administration.

Meanwhile, Republican Mike Turner, the chairman of the intelligence committee in the House of Representatives, argued that China utilized the balloon to devise a strategy to counter US missile defense and nuclear weapons systems.

That being said, the US is interested in recovering the Chinese spy balloon’s wreckage because it may provide information on the precise mission of the balloon and Beijing’s spying capabilities.