Top US diplomat slams 'unacceptable' China balloon

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said China's decision to fly an apparent spy balloon over the US is "unacceptable and irresponsible".

The top American diplomat has abruptly cancelled a trip to Beijing, which would have been the first high level US-China meeting there in years, BBC reports.

China earlier expressed regret, saying it was a weather airship that had been blown astray into American airspace.

The incident comes amid fraying tensions between the US and China.

Later on Friday the Pentagon said a second Chinese spy balloon had been spotted - this time over Latin America.

"We are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America. We now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon," said Pentagon press secretary Brig Gen Patrick Ryder. He provided no further details about the balloon's location.

"This is an unacceptable as well as an irresponsible action," he said. "It's even more irresponsible coming on the eve of a long-planned visit."

America's top diplomat was set to visit Beijing from 5 to 6 February to hold talks on a wide range of issues, including security, Taiwan and Covid-19.

But on Thursday US defence officials announced they were tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon over the United States.