The national defence said in a statement: "A high-altitude surveillance balloon was detected and its movements are being actively tracked by NORAD(North American Aerospace Defense Command)."

The statement further said: "Canadians are safe and Canada is taking steps to ensure the security of its airspace, including the monitoring of a potential second incident."

NORAD, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defence, and other partners have been assessing the situation and working in close coordination.

"Canada’s intelligence agencies are working with American partners and continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard Canada’s sensitive information from foreign intelligence threats," read the statement.

The US government is trying to track a suspected Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon over the continental United States, media reports said on Friday.

Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said in a statement: " The United States Government has detected and is tracking a high altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now."

" The U.S. government, to include NORAD, continues to track and monitor it closely. The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground. Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years," the spokesperson said.