China: 'Spy Balloon' Is a Civilian Airship 

China says that that suspected high altitude surveillance balloon that was hovering over the US in Montana was in fact a civilian airship that was used for weather research that had been blown off course. China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that westerly wind caused the airship to stray into U S territory. President Biden was briefed on the matter and a senior administration official says that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the Joint Chiefs, Chairman Mark Milley recommended not to shoot down that balloon.