US shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon over east coast

Chinese foreign ministry accuses US of overreacting' and violating international practice' after balloon was downed

A US warplane has shot down a Chinese high-altitude balloon over the Atlantic Ocean after it had crossed the entire US and caused a diplomatic rift between the two countries.

The balloon, which China said is for meteorological purposes but the US insists has been spying, could be seen on television collapsing and falling from the sky.