Chinese 'spy balloon' spotted over US, says Pentagon

The Pentagon is tracking a suspected spy balloon belonging to China as it flies over the western United States, officials said Thursday.

"Clearly the intent of this balloon is for surveillance," a senior US defense official told reporters on the condition of anonymity.

The official said the balloon — which has been spotted over Montana — has a flight path that would carry it over a number of sensitive sites, but did not provide specific details.

Montana is home to one of three US nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base.