THIS is the astonishing moment China allegedly strikes a UFO hurtling through the sky.
Footage of the fireball shooting over the eastern part of the country emerged in a now-viral video on Friday, sparking wild speculation online.
Footage of a fireball shooting through the sky has sparked wild theories online
Many claim it was a flying UFO
Users have alleged it was an asteroid that was shot down by authorities
Locals in Weifang, Rizhao, and Shandong Province, said they saw a cluster of light career through the sky before disappearing in a flash.
The mysterious event was captured on video and shared online, triggering a flurry of theories.
Many claim the light is evidence of an asteroid being intercepted.
Locals said they heard “two loud bangs, resembling artillery shells” followed by a bright object plummeting to the ground.
Others allege to have witnessed a “UFO being shot” citing the bright light and its mysterious disappearance.
Meanwhile, some suggested China might be “testing planetary defence systems”.
One commenter said: “If China is really testing planetary defense systems, that’s actually pretty amazing.
“The world needs more research into asteroid interception.”
Authorities have dismissed the various claims, insisting they have not received any information regarding an interception.
It comes as China is reportedly planning a mission to strike an asteroid with a spacecraft.
If successful, it will become the second country after the US to achieve such a venture.
Wu Weiren, the chief designer of China’s lunar exploration programme, told South China Morning Post that the programme’s aim was “defending against asteroids”.
Earlier this year, reports suggested China was already assembling a planetary defence team after a giant “city-killer” asteroid was discovered hurtling towards Earth.
Scientists say , dubbed 2024 YR4, is between 40 and 100 metres wide, and would blow a crater the size of a city into the Earth’s crust – with the potential for thousands of deaths.
A special projects cell in ‘s State Department for and posted job adverts for three “planetary defence” posts.
The centre – China’s mission control for aerospace engineering – was reportedly recruiting graduate science whizzes to advance asteroid monitoring and build early warning systems.
ESA projections show 2024 YRA’s path could intersect with Earth’s orbit at time in 2032 – specifically 8.52am GMT on Wednesday, December 22.
With rising concerns about the chances of impact, researchers have suggested – including solar lasers, nuclear bombs or – most likely – kinetic impactors.
Mathematicians have calculated that crashing a “sacrificial” spacecraft into the side of a speeding asteroid less than one kilometre across – like 2024 YRA – would be powerful enough to divert it.
Another nuclear option would be to detonate the nuclear weapon further away from the asteroid with the idea that the explosion would damage the surface of the rock and knock it off course.
If carried out correctly, there would be minimal damage to the asteroid, and therefore no risk of chunks of space rock falling to Earth.
A bright light was reportedly seen in the air
It appeared to plummet to the ground in a flash 
