The United States believes the Chinese hot air balloon that was shot down on February 4 after crossing the United States was originally on a path over Guam and Hawaii but was diverted by the wind, a US official said on Wednesday on condition of anonymity. . , reports Reuters.

The remains of a downed American reconnaissance ball were recovered by the US NavyPhoto: US Navy/ MEGA / The Mega Agency / Profimedia

The balloon, which Washington suspects of spying for what Beijing says is a civilian research tool, swept over the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, then passed through Canada and the central United States before being shot down by the US military off the coast of South Carolina. February 4.

The incident further strained US-China relations and forced US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to postpone a planned visit to Beijing last week.

The U.S. military and intelligence agencies have been tracking the balloon since it took off from Hainan Island, off China’s southern coast, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

The US military said on Monday that it had removed critical electronic components from the balloon, as well as large parts of the object itself.

(source: news.ro)