connection to slavery. hello and welcome to bbc news. the giant chinese balloon that had been floating over the united states has been shot down by an american fighterjet off the coast of south carolina. the balloon, which the us says was being used to spy on military sites, appeared to plummet straight into the sea. china continues to insist it was a stray civilian weather observation airship. our correspondent david willis has more from washington. officials here are saying that this chinese balloon was brought down about six miles off the coast of south carolina by a single missile fired by a us fighterjet. now, president biden had apparently given permission for such a strike on wednesday, that is a day before the actual presence of this balloon was made public. military officials decided to hold back for fear that it could spray debris down onto the mainland and hurt people on the ground below. then, today, as it was crossing the coast of south carolina, they closed loca
visit, alongside the leaders of the church of england and church of scotland. we ll tell you about the bbcjournalist trying to make amends for her own family s connection to slavery. the giant chinese balloon that had been floating over the united states has been shot down by an american fighterjet off the coast of south carolina. the balloon, which the us says was being used to spy on military sites appeared to plummet straight into the sea. china continues to insist it was a stray civilian weather observation airship. tim allman reports. for days now, all eyes have been on this solitary object, floating serenely through us airspace. was that a harmless weather balloon? or a spy in the sky, sent by the chinese? whatever it was, the american government has decided enough is enough. look at that trial of white paper on the left of the screen. that is a us f 22 fighterjet, streaking towards fighter jet, streaking towards the fighterjet, streaking towards the balloon. then, a se
joining us from washington dc to discuss this further is the director of the kissinger institute on china and the united states, robert daly. thank you for being with us. no explanation, disappears from view and a replacement put in without much explanation. is that a regular and chinese politics? it is much explanation. is that a regular and chinese politics? and chinese politics? it is not unprecedented. and chinese politics? it is not unprecedented. the - and chinese politics? it is not unprecedented. the chinesel unprecedented. the chinese government operates in secret. no explanation has been given as to why the foreign minister is out. and you can expect no explanation to be given. he will probably simply go back home and not to be seen again in public. although, we don t know, there have been cases of some disgraced officials reappearing. it is kind of secrecy is par for the course. it is kind of secrecy is par for the course. ., , ., ., , course. it wouldn t be against the
senior people who may follow other leaders within the party? this senior people who may follow other leaders within the party? leaders within the party? this is speculative leaders within the party? this is speculative. i leaders within the party? this is speculative. i wouldn t - leaders within the party? this is speculative. i wouldn t take - leaders within the party? this is speculative. i wouldn t take it i leaders within the party? this is l speculative. i wouldn t take it too far. i don t think this points necessary to deep factionalism within the party. it could merely points to a deep dislike for oin gang himself. there has been much made of this, especially in the american media, which is enjoying the chinese president s embarrassment and china s awkwardness most people are speculating that there is deep perfectionism in the party. we don t see us sign of that. the president of china who has had a bad run for the past two years still seems to be firmly in, and. the past tw
of the atlantic ocean. a short while ago, at a briefing, the pentagon said they thought this balloon was part of a fleet but had violated the sovereignty of countries across five continents, as they put it. a short time ago president biden was asked if he thought this operation was provocative, as far as the chinese were concerned, and he declined to comment. david willis reporting there. earlier, i spoke to the director of the kissinger institute on china and the united states in washington, robert daly, and he told us how serious this situation is for us china relations. firstly, as you say, it is going to be fascinating. the question is, how important is it going to be. this has been a very dramatic few days. there is a very good plot, it is getting a lot of attention. the balloon does not tell us anything about chinese us relations that we didn t already know, so that is one aspect of the story.