The US is tracking what it described as a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon which was seen flying over sensitive areas for some days now.
Defence officials in Washington have expressed total confidence that the surveillance balloon is owned by China and was recently seen above the western state of Montana.
The BBC cited a senior defence official as saying they have prepared fighter jets for immediate action whenever the White House gives order to shoot down the surveillance balloon.
Meanwhile, China has warned the US against speculation until the facts are verified, according to a BBC report.
It says the balloon flew over Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and through Canada before appearing over the city of Billings in Montana on Wednesday.
Similarly, Canada said on Friday that it was monitoring the surveillance balloon and is working with the US to protect its sensitive information from foreign intelligence threats.
Writing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade; Editing by Tony Okerafor