China says - 'Yes, it belongs to us!'
Around a thousand rounds were seen fired, why is it so that Canada was not able to Shoot Down this so-called Research Balloon with their best of fighter Jets around twenty-five years ago?
Finally the same happened and American Air Force shot down the ‘spy balloon’ of China with its fifth-gen fighter jet, F-22 Raptor, as confirmed by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin.
Lately, a second Chinese spy balloon was seen soaring on the Latin American skies, one day after the American Pentagon’s revelation of the spy balloon entering American airspace several days ago which was spotted floating over Montana area.
Soon after the incident came to light, a diplomatic showdown started between America and China. American secretary of state, Antony Blinken, immediately postponed his visit to China. officials in the Chinese Foreign Ministry officials said American allegations were unwarranted “hype” deliberated to smear China.
American media reported that the balloon’s stop at Montana is vital in the entire episode since it is home to Malmstrom Air Force Base, housing three of its nuclear silos in the United States.
The defense officials also stated that the American Air Force scrambled its stealth fighter jets (F-22) for intercepting the surveillance balloon. Nevertheless, they did not shoot it down earlier to avoid debris falling on the Americans on the ground.
The incident did spark a frenzy among US civilians and politicians who took to social media in order to chastise the Joe Biden led administration for not shooting down the hostile intelligence-gathering balloon. Some netizens even noticed how it was ridiculously “amusing” that a superpower like China was using balloons for spying on another superpower like America.
Not only military enthusiasts but social media users also called on the Pentagon as well as Biden administration to shoot down the balloon, which allegedly was the latest Chinese attempt intended to steal military information by hovering over significant US defense installations.
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On the other hand, as per the specialists, shooting the balloon was not actually feasible. Surveillance balloons specialists at the Marathon Initiative think tank in Washington, tells, – “These balloons use helium. It is not the Hindenburg, it is not the case you just shoot it, and then it goes up in flames.” They also refer to the airship accident which 86 years ago occurred on May 6, 1937. That time the airship used hydrogen gas lasted about 90 seconds after getting shot.
Or in other words, if U.S. fighter jets try to shoot it down or punch holes, it still may stay in the air, with helium leaking out very slowly.
