China warns of countermeasures against U.S. entities in balloon row

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin in 2022. Wang on Wednesday warned of countermeasures but did not specify them.    © Reuters

February 15, 2023 23:57 JST

BEIJING (Reuters) -- China said on Wednesday that U.S. high altitude balloons flew over its Xinjiang and Tibet regions, and that it will take measures against U.S. entities that undermine Chinese sovereignty as a diplomatic dispute festered.

Washington and Beijing are locked in a tussle over flying objects after the U.S. military this month shot down what it called a Chinese spy balloon over the coast of South Carolina. Beijing says its balloon was a civilian research vessel mistakenly blown off course, and that Washington overreacted.

This week, China countered that U.S. balloons had flown over its airspace without permission more than 10 times on round-the-world flights since May 2022.

"Without the approval of relevant Chinese authorities, it has illegally flown at least 10 times over China's territorial airspace, including over Xinjiang, Tibet and other provinces," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular daily briefing on Wednesday.

The White House has disputed China's allegations.

readmore: