Mystery in the Skies of China

"Danced with wind and danced with fire
Killed the truth and called the liar
Bleeding in its mystery when the moon began to fall"

                                                             --"China" by Red Rockers

Only a few short months after a SETI 'bot quipped, "Why don't you hear about UFO delays at the airport?" [paraphrase] it happened. 

This past July 7th saw an unknown object over Xiaoshan Airport in Hangzhou, China that caused the airport to temporarily shut down and delay numerous flights.  An estimated 2,000 passengers had their travel disrupted.  Here is a photograph of the object via Coast-to-Coast AM.com:

Here's another from China Daily:

The aircraft is being noted for its odd shape, roughly somewhere between a rectangle and a tube.  Speculation of course is running rampant as to what the object was.  Its shape suggests that it could be an experimental missile or other military aircraft.  One Internet source is saying that this is a new bomber in the US Air Force's inventory.  This has been met by cries of "we would never fly an aircraft into another nation's airspace unannounced like this."  Uh-huh.  This of course in no way precludes the possibility of it being a new Chinese "superplane."  In fact, "an anonymous source" told China Daily that the object has a definite "military connection."

Radar at the airport did not have contact with the object, but the photos and video certainly don't look like any kind of a weather anomaly.  Still, die-hard skeptics will cling hard and fast to the "light from Venus refracted through swamp gas" theories.  That is not to say that it couldn't be a hoax.  But if it was a hoax, that would mean two things to me.  First, it was an elaborate endeavor and I would like to shake the hand of whatever genius pulled it off.  Two, I probably won't be able to do that because the individual(s) will be apprehended and introduced to new concepts of pain and suffering by Chinese officials for having mucked with an airport and travel safety.  Let's face it, the Chinese are not well known for their tolerance and humane treatment of prisoners. 

Finally, there is of course the reality that the object could have been an alien spacecraft or perhaps something even more beyond the pale than that.  But we have a long way to go and a great need for evidence before that claim can be made on solid ground.

Regardless of what this object turns out to be, it underscores one thing: UFOs are serious business and they are worthy of study and investigation.  Think about it, this UFO managed to evade radar contact and cause the closing of a large airport.  Isn't that worthy of at least a modicum of concern?  Likewise, are not the affected people and the world at-large entitled to the truth of what happened once it is determined?  Yeah, but the real question is whether or not we'll get it.  I'm betting on not.  What's more, I'm certain there are already multifarious facets of world governments that know exactly what went on over Hangzhou on the 7th of this month, but do not hold your breath waiting to hear from them.

In an interesting aside, a "rain of luminous beams" was spotted Xiamen, China last Friday night.  Here's a pic via Coast-to-CoastAM.com:

Meteorological experts in the area reported no such sighting, but confirmed that it was not a meteor shower.  If you look at the picture though, something smells fishy.  Note the middle of the three figures and its translucent nature.  I'm starting to think the picture is a fake.

If you'd like to read more about the Hangzhou UFO, check out these articles on Yahoo! and this clip from ABC News.

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