What has Happened: The Chinese surveillance balloon that crossed over the U.S. this week was shot down by a U.S. F-22 on Saturday afternoon. The spy balloon was about six miles off the coast of South Carolina and flying at an altitude of between 60,000 and 65,000 feet when it was shot down. U.S. officials are now closely watching China’s reaction and whether the Chinese military will retaliate against American assets in any way. U.S. efforts to recover pieces of the balloon and its sensor payload are currently underway. Why it Matters: “Congratulations to our U.S. military for ... SITREP – Surveillance Balloon Shot Down