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A massive Chinese surveillance balloon has been hovering over the northern United States for the last few days, senior defense officials confirmed on Thursday - with Joe Biden being briefed on Wednesday about his options, including shooting it out of the sky.

Biden suggested the high-altitude balloon should be shot down, after it was spotted and reported by civilians in a commercial airliner, U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal. 

The Pentagon opposed the move, fearing civilian casualties if the giant balloon - the size of three buses - is exploded in the air. 

'The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now,' Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told NBC News.