The US Defense Department has released photos that show Navy personnel recovering debris of a suspected Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by a US fighter jet.

The Pentagon on Tuesday released the photos of sailors hauling a large, white object into a boat off the coast of South Carolina on Sunday.

It said the sailors belong to an explosives disposal team.

The balloon was brought down on Saturday after it had traversed the continental United States.

Defense Department officials plan to analyze the debris to find out the balloon's intelligence-gathering and other capabilities.

China has reacted sharply to the US downing of the balloon, arguing that it was a civilian unmanned airship.