China Says It Is Looking Into Spy-Balloon Allegation by U.S.

China declined to say whether it sent a spy balloon over the continental U.S. but said it wanted to handle the allegation calmly with Washington.

U.S. officials said on Thursday that a Chinese reconnaissance balloon had been spotted over Montana, adding that it was expected to pass in a southeasterly direction over the country for a few days.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said in a daily press briefing on Friday that officials were still collecting information about the allegation.

“The Chinese side is gathering and verifying the facts,” said the spokeswoman,...