China calls spy balloon floating over US a 'civilian airship'

After a high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon was spotted hovering over Montana in the US, China expressed regret that an "airship" used for civilian meteorological and other scientific purposes had strayed.

The spy balloon saga led to the postponement of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's first official trip to Beijing. Although the trip was not formally announced, both Beijing and Washington were talking about his imminent arrival.