The US has refused to return the wreckage of the surveillance balloon to China. The spy balloon was shot down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden made a big statement on China's relations. He said the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon had not weakened ties between Washington and Beijing. 

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Biden said that he has always believed that the balloon should be shot down as soon as possible. Asked if the balloon incident has weakened US-China relations? Biden said no, we have made it clear to China what we are going to do. They understand our position. We are not going to back down. We did the right thing and it is not a question of being weak or strong, it is the reality.

Earlier the US military has stepped up its efforts to collect the remains of the surveillance balloon. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he had no knowledge of any such intention. There are currently no plans to return the wreckage. Kirby said that it was true that this balloon had the ability to accelerate, slow down and turn itself. So it had propellers, it had a rudder, allowing it to change direction if you wanted. 

According to Northern Command Commander General Glenn Vanherk, the height of the balloon was up to 200 feet. He said it carried a payload weighing several thousand pounds, roughly the size of a regional jet aircraft.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that we believe China's irresponsible actions were visible to the US and the world. Not only that, at the same time a second PRC surveillance balloon was seen passing over Latin America.