The incident took place on Tuesday, when the US fighter jet, believed to be an F-15, was on a routine patrol mission in the Pacific. According to sources, the balloon was detected flying in restricted airspace, and the fighter jet was scrambled to intercept it. After several attempts to communicate with the balloon, the jet fired a missile, which struck and destroyed the balloon.
The US military has not disclosed the exact location of the incident, but it is believed to have taken place near a US military installation in the Pacific. The Chinese government has not responded to the incident, but some experts are speculating that the balloon could have been part of China's espionage program, aimed at gathering intelligence on US military operations in the region.
This is not the first time that the US military has taken action against suspected spy balloons. In 2015, a US fighter jet shot down a drone in the Pacific that was believed to have been operated by China. However, this incident is highly unusual, as it marks the first time a US fighter jet has shot down a suspected spy balloon in the Pacific.
The incident has raised tensions between the US and China, and could lead to further military escalations in the region. The US military has vowed to continue monitoring the skies and responding to potential threats, but has also called for dialogue with China to avoid further incidents.
The situation is still developing, and it remains to be seen how China will respond to the incident. In the meantime, the US military has increased its surveillance and monitoring efforts in the Pacific, to ensure the safety of its personnel and installations.
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International