Alleged spy balloon over US is weather device - China

An alleged spy balloon spotted over the US is a Chinese "civilian airship" which had deviated from its planned route, China says.

US defence officials said they believe the balloon, seen above sensitive areas in recent days, was in fact a "high-altitude surveillance" device.

But in a statement, China's foreign ministry said it was used for "mainly meteorological" purposes.

China "regrets the unintended entry" of the balloon into US airspace, it added.

The object flew over Alaska's Aleutian Islands and through Canada before appearing over the city of Billings in Montana on Wednesday, US officials said.

Montana is home to some of the US's nuclear missile silos.

The US decided not to shoot down the balloon because of the danger posed by falling debris, and the limited use of any intelligence the device could gather, the US defence official said.

However, the government prepared fighter jets in case the object had to be shot down.

US media earlier reported that the balloon was about the size of three buses, according to another official.

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