China urges calm amid balloon row as Blinken cancels Beijing trip

It was spotted earlier over Montana, which is home to one of America’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base, defence officials said.

A high altitude balloon floats over Billings, Montana (Larry Mayer/The Billings Gazette via AP)

China has urged “calm” amid a dispute over a giant Chinese balloon which is sailing high above the US.

The balloon has led to Pentagon accusations of spying on sensitive military sites, despite China’s firm denials, and prompted US secretary of state Antony Blinken to abruptly cancel a high-stakes Beijing trip aimed at easing tensions with China.