The US has said it does not plan to return the debris from the Chinese spy balloon shot down by the Pentagon on Saturday to Beijing, even after technical experts have finished analysing the surveillance capabilities that were on board the craft.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said there were no plans to return the debris to China, which has accused the US of violating the “spirit of international law” by downing the balloon. Beijing says the aircraft was being used for civilian meteorological research, a claim the US has rejected.

Asked if the US would return any parts of the balloon retrieved by navy divers conducting a salvage operation off the coast of South Carolina, Kirby said: “I know of no such intention of plans to return it.”