That’s my feeling as well. If I had to guess, I think the US government believes China will invade Taiwan soon and the US wants to mount a full scale defense, which would involve direct confrontation with China. The only problem is the US citizens couldn’t care less what happens to Taiwan, which is just some random APAC country for all they know.

So, in order to gain support they’re drumming up nationalist fervor by shooting down Chinese spy craft that they previously considered mostly harmless.

Honestly if that's what this is its pretty weak. Most people are not going to want to go to war over a few balloons. Especially with China. That's a war that impacts the US mainland. No once comes out of this close to whole. Plus it we are already in a proxy war with Russia. I don't think anyone wants to fight Russia and China at the same time, regardless of how bruised Russia is currently.