Downed Chinese balloon aimed for Hawaii, blown off course

February 16, 2023

The Chinese spy balloon that was shot down with a missile off South Carolina originally had a trajectory that would have taken it over Guam and Hawaii but was blown off course, a government official has revealed.

The balloon, which Washington accuses Beijing of using for espionage and China says was a civilian weather research airship, was derailed from heading to the islands by prevailing winds, a US official speaking on condition of anonymity told Reuters.

The balloon drifted across Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, then Canada and the central US before it was downed by a missile fired from an F-22 fighter jet on Feb. 4.

The US military said Monday it had recovered critical electronics from the balloon as well as large sections of the vessel itself.

The incident has further strained US-China relations and prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a planned visit to Beijing last week.

Chinese spy balloon flying over Washington, Missouri. — A US official speaking anonymously said the Chinese balloon originally had a trajectory that would have taken it over Guam and Hawaii but was blown off course by wind.

In this photo provided by Chad Fish, the remnants of a large balloon drift above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina, with a fighter jet and its contrail seen below it, Feb. 4, 2023. — The balloon was shot out of the sky with a missile fired by an F-22 fighter jet on Feb. 4.

US military and intelligence agencies tracked the balloon from when it lifted off from Hainan Island near China’s south coast, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

During a regular briefing Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin did not answer a question about whether the balloon was set to fly over Guam and Hawaii before it was blown off course by prevailing winds, instead repeating the Chinese position that Washington should not “overreact.”

During the previous day’s briefing, Wang threatened retaliation against US entities for allegedly undermining China’s sovereignty.

Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Feb. 5, 2023. — China has maintained that the balloon was a civilian weather airship and blasted Washington for shooting it down.

“The US has abused force, overreacted, escalated the situation, and used this as a pretext to illegally sanction Chinese companies and institutions,” Wang said.

“China is firmly opposed to this and will take countermeasures against relevant US entities that undermine China’s sovereignty and security in accordance with the law.”

China will “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and its legitimate rights and interests,” Wang added.

Sailors conduct pre-dive checks during recovery efforts for debris from a Chinese high-altitude balloon in the Atlantic Ocean. — Sailors conducted pre-dive checks during recovery efforts for debris from the Chinese balloon in the Atlantic Ocean.

A sailor conducts a search for debris with an underwater vehicle during recovery efforts of a Chinese high-altitude balloon in the Atlantic Ocean. — A sailor searched for the balloon debris using an underwater vehicle during recovery efforts.

Sailors conducts a search for debris with an underwater vehicle during recovery efforts of a Chinese high-altitude balloon in the Atlantic Ocean. — The balloon was shot down off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Sailors prepared to transport the remains of the balloon to federal agents at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek.

On Thursday, China imposed trade and investment sanctions on Lockheed Martin and Raytheon for supplying weapons to Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its dominion.

It was unclear whether the sanctions targeting US military contractors were related to the fallout from the balloon incident.

While China denies the balloon was a military asset, it has yet to say what government department or company was responsible for its operation.

After initially expressing regret over the balloon’s unsanctioned entry into US airspace, China has escalated its rhetoric against Washington, claiming earlier this week that the US had flown more than 10 high-altitude balloons in its airspace over the past year.