Early this February, multiple Chinese spy balloons were seen floating over North America. While China claims these were weather balloons floating off track, evidence from the shot down balloon says otherwise.  China’s initial response stated: “Affected by the westerly wind and with limited self-control ability, the airship seriously deviated from the scheduled route.”  These sightings have caused a sudden diplomatic rupture between the U.S. and China.

Although the US could be wrong, the idea of a weather balloon was not a strongly supported possibility. The balloons flew 60,000 feet above the ground, much higher than modern aircraft and much lower than a weather balloon.  The material was made up of 90% helium, making it hard for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to spot them.  All 3 balloons were spotted by civilians who had a gut feeling to report their findings.  As US suspicions grew,  the need to shoot them down was inevitable.  The balloons were shot down by an F-22 fighter jet, using a heat-guided missile. When shot, it fell into the Atlantic.  Not all was negative, though; the US military retrieved some new crucial technology that they had yet to discover. However, a statement by the FBI concluded that much more evidence has yet to be recovered, most of which is still sitting under the Atlantic waters.  More tension is the least of what our country needs, but the public can only stand by and hope for peace. Perhaps the best role we can play is staying updated with reliable current news.