A ground-based laser can easily reach and damage a slow-moving target past 100,000 feet altitude if the weather is clear.
Prototype aircraft-based lasers have successfully destroyed target drones in flight.
Whether we actually have such weapons deployed is an open question. Perhaps the Chinese were looking for an answer to that question with their provocation flights over the United States.
Thanks for the info. The whole balloon thing is very interesting, but I’m sure glad I’m not a young person nowadays.