‘For civilian purpose’: China over balloon spotted in Latin America

China spy balloon: Colombia's air force said in a brief statement on Saturday that a possible balloon had been detected in its air defense system on Friday morning.

The balloon sighted in Latin America is from China and is for civilian purposes, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday.

A jet flies by a suspected Chinese spy balloon as it floats off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, (REUTERS)

The balloon has limited self-steering capability, Mao told a regular news briefing.

Colombia's air force said in a brief statement on Saturday that a possible balloon had been detected in its air defense system on Friday morning.