Joe Biden addresses UFOs as Chinese balloon crashes into Taiwan

Joe Biden defended his decision to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon, while addressing the recent spate of UFOs over North America.

US president Joe Biden addressed the four objects shot down over North America for the first time, revealing the last three were likely used for research or recreation.

Biden said he gave the order to “take down” the three unidentified flying objects after military radars were tweaked following the incursion of China’s balloon.

Despite the stunning admission, the US president said he made “no apologies” to Chinese President Xi Jinping for taking down the balloon that sparked the remarkable series of air-to-air engagements over Alaska, Canada, and Michigan.

“We don’t yet know exactly what these three objects were, but nothing right now suggests they were related to China’s spy balloon program or that they were surveillance vehicles from any other country,” Biden said.

US President Joe Biden addressed the four downed objects for the first time. Picture: AFP

He said that they most likely belonged to private companies and were used for either recreation, studying the weather, or other scientific research, and were detected “partially because of the steps we’ve taken narrowing our radars.”

“I’ve directed my team to come back to me with sharper rules to how we will deal with these unidentified objects moving forward, distinguishing between those that are likely to pose safety and security risks that necessitate action and those that do not,” he said.

“If any object presents a threat to the safety and security of the American people, I will shoot it down.”

“The violation of our sovereignty is unacceptable,” he added.

Biden said the US tracked the Chinese spy balloon closely and analysed its capabilities, while taking steps to prevent the surveillance of sensitive military facilities.

“Our experts have lifted components off the Chinese balloon’s payload off the ocean floor, we’re analysing them as we speak, and what we learn will strengthen our capabilities,” he said.

“We’re not looking for a new Cold War, but I make no apologies and we will compete, we will responsibly manage that competition so that it doesn’t break out into conflict,” he said.

“I expect to be speaking with president Xi and I hope that we get to the bottom of this, but I make no apologies for taking down that balloon.”

Divers recover wreckage from the Chinese spy balloon. Picture: Supplied

He added the US would begin compiling an inventory of unmanned objects in its airspace, while also establishing “common global norms in this largely unregulated space”.

The call to regulate high altitudes comes as a Chinese balloon crashed into Taiwan, prompting the island nation to ramp up military patrols.

Taiwan’s army said “unidentified objects” were spotted falling from the sky over the Matsu islands, some 280 kilometres from the capital Taipei.

Taiwan increased the security at military facilities after discovering the balloon it says was Chinese made and appeared to be for weather research purposes.

There they found the remains of a balloon that was one metre in diameter and a device inscribed with simplified Chinese characters a that read “Taiyuan Radio No. 1 Factory Co., Ltd.” and “meteorology instrument,” the army said.

“Our initial analysis is that the remains belong to a meteorological detection device which have been stored by relevant units to be further analysed,” the army said.

A Chinese spy balloon shot down over the Atlantic. Picture: Reuters

“All units are required to enhance camp patrols and continue to … monitor relevant situation.”

Beijing has ramped up military, diplomatic and economic pressure in recent years on Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory and has vowed to seize one day, by force if necessary.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said at a press conference that Chinese meteorological balloons had previously been spotted without providing details on the number and frequency.

The ministry said it would shoot down devices that pose a “high level of threat” but it has not yet encountered such a craft.

– with AFP