Chinese balloon: US release photos of salvage

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For days, a Chinese balloon floated over US territory without permission until President Joe Biden ordered it launched near the US east coast on Saturday.

The debris plunged into the sea a few miles off the town of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Photo: Chad Fish/AP

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Several inflatable boats, helicopters and naval vessels have been combing the crash site since the weekend.

According to the news agency, larger pieces of debris may be analyzed further at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Photo: LT.

JG JERRY IRELAND / AFP

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The US Navy also uses special equipment to salvage the parts.

Here, two marines inspect a suspected underwater drone.

The water depths in the area are relatively shallow.

Photo: Nell Redmond/AP

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The balloon is being recovered in this photo provided by the US Department of Defense on Tuesday.

He was found on February 5th, one day after the shooting.

Photo by US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tyler Thompson//EPA

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The US government did not initially disclose details of the finds.

Washington accuses Beijing of using the balloon for espionage purposes.

China, on the other hand, claims it was a civilian research balloon that went off course.

Photo by US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tyler Thompson//EPA

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The day-long overflight of the balloon over US territory had further worsened the already battered relations between the US and China.

According to US information, the exchange about the incident was also not optimal.

According to the Pentagon, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had requested an interview with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe – Wei declined.

Photo by US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tyler Thompson//EPA

fec/AP