In a dramatic turn of events, US military fighter jets shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon over the Atlantic Ocean off the Eastern Seaboard of the United States on 4th February 2023. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed the news on Saturday, stating that President Joe Biden had approved the operation.

The balloon, which was tracked by the American public from Montana to the Carolinas, sparked a remarkable public drama and has now prompted a diplomatic fallout between Washington and Beijing. The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations.

According to a US official who spoke to CNN, the plan to shoot down the balloon was presented and supported by US military leaders. This indicates the gravity of the situation and the measures taken by the US to protect its national security.