BEIJING: Speculation and hype are not conducive until the facts are clear around a spy balloon the United States said has been flying over the US, the Chinese foreign ministry said at a press briefing on Friday.

The Pentagon reported on Thursday that a spy balloon it suspects is Chinese has been flying over the country for a couple of days.

Chinese spy balloon flies over the United States, Pentagon says

“We are learning about the verification of this matter,” Mao Ning, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said in answering a question on the matter. “We hope both sides can handle the matter calmly and prudently.”