On February 4, 2023, Biden ordered the United States Air Force to shoot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The State Department said the balloon carried antennas and other equipment capable of geolocating communications signals, and similar balloons from China have flown over more than 40 nations. The Chinese government denied that the balloon was a surveillance device, instead claiming it was a civilian (mainly meteorological) airship that had blown off course. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his planned visit to China as the incident further damaged U.S.-China relations. In May 2024, the Biden administration doubled tariffs on solar cells imported from China and more than tripled tariffs on lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries imported from China. It also raised tariffs on imports of Chinese steel, aluminum, and medical materials.
On February 4, 2023 Biden ordered the United States Air Force to shoot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The State Department said the balloon carried anten,nas and other equipment capable of geolocating communications signals, and similar balloons from China have flown over more than 40 nations. The Chinese government denied that the balloon was a surveillance device instead claiming it was a civilian (mainly meteorological) airship that had, blown off course. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed h?is planned visit to China as the incident further damaged U.S.-Chin,a relations. In May 2024, the Biden adminis,tration doubled tariffs on solar cells imported from China and more than tripled tariffs on li.thium-ion electric vehicle batteries imported from China. It also raised tariffs on imports of Chinese steel, aluminum, a,nd medical materials.