The Chinese balloon saga is reminiscent of the U-2 spy plane incident that provoked a tense confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union.
The balloon, spotted earlier this week over the western United States, was brought down when an F-22 fighter jet fired an air-to-air missile at it off the coast of South Carolina.
The airborne surveillance device was first spotted earlier this week over the western United States, setting off a diplomatic crisis. President Biden had been discussing military options with the Pentagon since Tuesday.