Americans Angry at Chinese Reconnaissance Balloon... Police Urge "Do Not Shoot"

A Chinese balloon photographed directly by a citizen of Montana. It appears like the moon as it was taken from a distance (Photo by Yonhap News/Twitter capture)

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Concerns and anger are growing among Americans over a flying object suspected to be a Chinese reconnaissance balloon that violated U.S. airspace.

On the 3rd (local time), U.S. police urged local residents not to shoot at the flying object suspected to be a Chinese reconnaissance balloon if they spot it.

The Gastonia Police Department in North Carolina posted on Facebook, "Even if the notorious Chinese 'weather observation balloon' passes over Gastonia, please report it to the police and do not shoot at it."

The day before, a flying object presumed to be a Chinese reconnaissance balloon appeared and roamed over the U.S. mainland, prompting U.S. authorities to consider shooting it down. China acknowledged the entry of its flying object into U.S. airspace but claimed, "It is a civilian airship mainly used for weather observation."

The Gastonia Police Department stated, "We do not have the capability to respond to events occurring at an altitude of 18 km, and law enforcement agencies would prefer that we do not get involved in this matter." They added, "Please do not attempt to shoot down the flying object with a handgun."

Gastonia is about 3,000 km away from Montana, where the flying object was first spotted the previous day. A meteorologist from CNN predicted on the evening of the 3rd that considering the wind direction, the flying object could move to North Carolina within 24 hours.