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The Chinese authorities had denied it was a spy aircraft, describing it as a weather ship blown astray.

Beijing has maintained that the balloon was a weather ship blown off course.

China insists it was a weather ship blown astray and has expressed "strong dissatisfaction" over its downing.

The Chinese authorities denied it was used for spying and insisted it was a weather ship blown astray.

However, China - which says it is weather ship blown astray - has urged "cool-headed" handling of the dispute.