This whole incident, the reactions of the Americans and the Chinese, it is really really funny I find.Haha! Haha!
Okay, this is my theory of why this balloon episode is so funny.
I once knew a guy, who told me that his daughter was terrified of clowns.
That was interesting, because I have heard about that psychological affliction, that some people were truly terrified of clowns. That man's daughter was terrified of clowns since she was a child, and in adulthood, she was still terrified of clowns. I think that is what happened here.
When confronted with a toy balloon, we find out that the Americans are scared of clowns.
That is kind of funny.
Expected? Unexpected? I don't know.