China to take countermeasures against US entities undermining its security

China says it will firmly respond with countermeasures to US sanctions imposed on Chinese companies, which Washington claimed were related to a Chinese balloon flying over its territory.  

At a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday, Wang Wenbin, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, said China disapproves of the US behavior and will take legal measures against any American entities that threaten China's sovereignty and security. 

Wang urged the US to stop smearing China and misleading the American public and international community. 

On February 11, a US military fighter jet brought down a suspected Chinese "spy" balloon off the coast of South Carolina.

The White House claimed the unmanned balloon was designed to detect and collect intelligence signals, but China said it was used for meteorological and other scientific purposes and had strayed into US airspace "accidentally". 

On Sunday, US military fighter jets shot down an octagonal flying object over Lake Huron, Canada, the Pentagon said, with many pointing fingers at China. Media reports said it was the fourth flying object to be shot down over North America by a US missile in a little more than a week.

Following the balloon incident, the United States postponed a high-level visit to Beijing by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The US also blacklisted six Chinese entities it accused of being linked to Beijing's aerospace programs and the US Congress voted to condemn China for what it called a "brazen violation" of US sovereignty. 

Wang on Wednesday revealed the US had released a large number of high-altitude balloons and has continued to conduct operations around the world since May 2022. 

Without the approval of the relevant authorities in China, these balloons have illegally flown over China's airspace at least 10 times, including over Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Southwest China's Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, the spokesman said.

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Beijing has repeatedly explained to Washington that civilian airships flew into the US airspace due to force majeure.

The White House has neglected to mention that a US balloon illegally flew over Chinese airspace without China's approval, Wang said.

China handled US balloons illegally entering the airspace with a calm and professional attitude, but the US has overreacted to Chinese airships designed for civilian use that flew into its airspace.

The US should explain this situation to China and the international community, the spokesman said.

Wang urged Japan to stop following the US in adding hype to the subject. As a responsible country, China has always strictly observed international law and respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.

"Without conclusive evidence, Japan has made a fierce attack against China, which we are firmly opposed to," he said. 

With US-China tensions already simmering, the balloon episode injects more mistrust and scuttles any opportunity in areas of mutual interest.

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