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Internet outraged after suspected Chinese 'spy' balloon 'as big as 3 buses' hovers over US skies

President Joe Biden suggested the high-altitude balloon should be shot down, after it was spotted

WASHINGTON, DC: The US government spotted a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon moving around the northern part of the country. The balloon sighting came days before Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to travel to the Chinese capital. 

The balloon was as big as three buses and has been termed a 'technology bay', as per Daily Mail. Meanwhile, this is not the first time spy balloons have been spotted over the country, however, this balloon has been staying for more than the usual time. However, the Internet had a lot of memes and jokes to share upon hearing the news. 

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What was President Joe Biden's response? 

When the information was shared with Joe Biden, he suggested the high-altitude balloon should be shot down. It was reported and spotted by civilians in a commercial airliner. "The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now, We continue to track and monitor it closely," said Pentagon spokesperson Brig Gen Pat Ryder. “The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground,” Ryder said, adding that the US military decided against shooting the balloon down," as per Daily Mail.

“The context for that was, it would put some things on station in the event that a decision was made to bring this down while it was over Montana. So we wanted to make sure we were coordinating with civil authorities to empty out the airspace around that potential area.” “Why not shoot it down? We have to do the risk-reward here,” the official said as per CNN. “So the first question is, does it pose a threat, a physical kinetic threat, to individuals in the United States in the US homeland? Our assessment is it does not. Does it pose a threat to civilian aviation? Our assessment is it does not. Does it pose a significantly enhanced threat on the intelligence side? Our best assessment right now is that it does not. So given that profile, we assess the risk of downing it, even if the probability is low in a sparsely populated area of the debris falling and hurting someone or damaging property, that it wasn’t worth it.”

Authorities' react to Chinese surveillance balloon

"Currently, we assess that this balloon has limited additive value from an intelligence collection perspective over and above what the PRC can do through other means. Nevertheless, we are taking all necessary steps to protect against foreign intelligence collection of sensitive information.," said a senior defense official. The senior defense official added, “We are confident that this high-altitude surveillance balloon belongs to the [People’s Republic of China],” the senior defense official said. “Instances of this activity have been observed over the past several years, including prior to this administration. It does not create significant value added over and above what the PRC is likely able to collect through things like satellites in low Earth orbit."

You did see reports yesterday of a ground stop at Billings Airport and the mobilization of a number of assets, including F-22. The context for that was that we put some things on station in the event that a decision was made to bring this down while it was over Montana. So we wanted to make sure we were coordinating with civil authorities to empty out the airspace around that potential area. But even with those protective measures taken, it was the judgment of our military commanders that we didn't drive the risk down low enough. So we didn't take the shot," the official said as per Fox News.

The official also added, "It was the strong recommendation of senior military leaders not to take kinetic action due to the risk to safety and security of people on the ground from the possible debris field."  "If the risk of the balloon changes, the U.S. 'will have options to deal with this balloon. We have communicated to [Chinese officials] the seriousness with which we take this issue,' the source said. But we have made clear we will do whatever is necessary to protect our people and our homeland," an insider revealed to CNN. “Instances of this activity have been observed over the past several years, including prior to this administration,” said the senior administration official to NBC. “We acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information.” “Currently we assess that this balloon has limited additive value from an intelligence collection perspective over and above what the PRC can do through other means,” the senior defense official said. “Nevertheless we are taking all necessary steps to protect against foreign intelligence collection of sensitive information.”

'Take it Down Please to find what’s inside'

The Internet quickly reacted to the recent news. A user said, "Spy Bollon is looking for the Jet stream to launch a New Virus on us !!!" Another added, "There’s a Chinese spy watching us and you tweets about this?" A user noted, "Funny how these Chinese spy balloons don’t change direction going gs faster than our best jets… ufos are not from China Russia or the us." "Not a “spy”… China has been sending balloons with viruses at us since before airplanes were invented. It’s more likely a biological attack," said another user.

Another claimed, "I thought this only happened in the movies? There should be a mobile device like Batman had that grabs the spy balloons from getting close to US." A user stated, "US spy photos of it being deployed." "Chinese spy balloon spotted over US airspace," tweeted a user. "So… just gonna let a Chinese spy balloon roam around over us?" asked a user. "It’s comical ppl believe the Chinese needs a balloon to spy on us," explained another. "Chinese spy one flying over northern US right now… they can have her," wrote a user. "The Chinese Spy Bollon is seeding the air with the Newest Virus that could Hurt us !!! Take it Down Please to find what’s inside can we fly a spy Bollon over China I think not !!!!!!!!" claimed a user.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.