Downed Chinese balloon headed for Hawaii but veered off course – US source

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) – A Chinese balloon that was shot down after crossing the mainland United States was originally on a path that would have taken it over Guam and Hawaii, but has been deflected by prevailing winds, said Wednesday a U.S. official who offered comments on condition of anonymity.

The balloon, which Washington accuses Beijing of using for surveillance purposes and which China says was a civilian investigative tool, flew over the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, then Canada and the central United States before landing. to be shot down by the American army off the coast of South Carolina. February 4.

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

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

During a briefing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin did not answer a question about whether the balloon intended to fly over Guam and Hawaii before deviating from its path, reiterating the China’s position that the United States should not “overreact”.

The U.S. military said Monday it had recovered critical electronics from the balloon, as well as large parts of the craft.