Beijing says on Friday it has 'no intention of violating the territory or airspace of any sovereign country' after US claims that it flew a spy balloon over US territory.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning says she hope both sides will handle the matter "with mutual calm and prudence".

The incident comes just days before a planned visit to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, with heightened tensions between the two powers at the top of the agenda.