Citing this in first paragraph takes away any credibility:

'Prominent anti war activist, Caitlin Johnson, has weighed in to express concern at " the entire American political/media class having an existential meltdown over what the Pentagon claims is a Chinese spy balloon."'

She is Australian, chooses to be based in the US, promoted as geopolitical expert on Russia and Ukraine which means blaming US &/or NATO of provocation for the invasion of Ukraine; she's published (too) often in the supposedly 'left' Pearls & Irritations along with other RWNJs and Putin apologists.

Their modus operandi is to focus on NATO/US and cold war with USSR, but then ignore any credible analysis from Russia, Ukraine, Europe and Anglosphere; 'horseshoe theory'?

I'm not sure what point the author is trying to make, but China flying what is clearly a device carrying nearly 1 ton of spying equipment over some of the most sensitive areas is not a friendly act, and I cannot see China accepting an American balloon floating over it.

That this is not an isolated incident with Chinese spy balloons floating around the world this discovery has deeply humiliated China and pissed off the US again just when Xi was supposedly trying to rebuild bridges his stooges are busy burning them.

What if?

Thd Canberra Clowns would probably gather outside Parliament House and wave to it.

There are no secrets in Australia aside from the Voice, and I doubt that China would have any desire to find out about that.

The what if!
What if the naughty Chinese were delivering a nuclear bomb by balloon to be dropped over Washington ?
Well we could maybe hope against hope, Biden would be sitting in his office at that moment!

One unintended fly over perhaps. Two, barely possible. Three, you can't be serious!

Clearly this is a very clumsy attempt at intel gathering that may even have gone unnoticed previously.

As for, what if we spot a UFO flying over our airspace. We need to shoot it down. No ifs, buts or maybes.
Alan B.