U.S. shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon

Article content

WASHINGTON — The United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon as it floated off the country’s southeastern coast on Saturday, a Reuters witness and U.S. officials said, drawing to a close a dramatic spying saga that drew a spotlight on worsening Sino-U.S. relations.

President Joe Biden approved a military plan to shoot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon, U.S. officials said, as the government ordered a halt to flights around the South Carolina coast due to what it called an undisclosed “national security effort.”

Article content

Article content

The Pentagon did not immediately comment.

Washington has called the balloon…