China FM: "Spy" Balloon Of Civilian Nature- Will Maintain Coms With US

Comments hitting wires from the Chinese Foreign Ministry on the alleged Chinese "spy" balloon spotted over Montana yesterday.

• Chinese FM, per Reuters: "Airship came from China is of a civilian nature... for meteorological and other scientific research."
• "China will continue to maintain communications with the US to properly handle the unexpected situation."
• "China regrets the airship strays into the US."
• The reports of the Chinese "spy" balloon have caused considerable political backlash in the US with Republican lawmakers criticizing a cautious Biden administration response and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) calling for a "gang of eight" meeting so Congressional leadership can be briefed by the Pentagon.
• The balloon story comes just days before Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Beijing where he will have a highly anticipated series of meetings designed to reset the US-China relationship.
• Some media outlets have reported that meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping may also be on the cards but that has yet to be confirmed by the State Department.
• The comments from the Chinese FM will relieve pressure that the balloon incident could lead to a worsening of relations ahead of the Blinken trip.