China's foreign ministry on Saturday reiterated that the civilian balloon used for meteorological research unintentionally entered into US airspace due to force majeure, saying some politicians and media in the US are smearing China with the issue.

A high altitude balloon floats over Billings, Mont., on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. (Photo: AP)

"China resolutely opposed that some politicians and media in the US are taking advantage of the issue to attack and discredit China," the ministry said in a statement.

US media reported that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had postponed his upcoming trip to China following the flying of a "suspected Chinese spy balloon" over the United States.