The Chinese government said on Wednesday it will take action against US entities involved in the shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the east coast of the United States.
In his daily press release, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin did not provide any details on the actions that would be taken or the entities targeted.
The Chinese government confirmed that the unmanned airship was intended to monitor the weather and was shot down when it accidentally derailed, accusing the United States of exaggerating its reaction by shooting it down with a missile fired from an F-22 fighter jet.
Following the downing of the balloon on February 4, the United States imposed sanctions on six Chinese entities it said were linked to China’s space programs.
The US House of Representatives later voted unanimously to condemn China for its “flagrant violation” of US sovereignty and its efforts to “deceive the international community through false claims of intelligence gathering.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also canceled his visit to Beijing, at a time when many were looking forward to stabilizing relations that have collapsed amid a row over trade, human rights and a row between Taiwan and China in the South China Sea.
Although China rejects the fact that the airship is a military asset, it has not yet determined the responsible party or its government company.
“China resolutely opposes it and will take countermeasures in accordance with law against relevant US entities that undermine China’s sovereignty and security,” Wang said at his press conference on Wednesday.
Wang stressed that China will “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and its legitimate rights and interests.”
On the other hand, the US ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, said today also that the storming of the Chinese airship was part of a pattern of aggressive behavior from Beijing.
Emanuel pointed to China’s recent use of military-grade laser radiation at a Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel, Chinese planes harassing American planes, and China’s opening of illegal police stations in the United States, Ireland and other countries.
“The balloon, for me, is not an isolated incident,” said Emmanuel.
And the Japanese Ministry of Defense said, on Tuesday, that at least three flying objects seen in Japanese airspace since 2019 are strongly believed to be Chinese spy balloons, noting that it had lodged protests and demanded that Beijing provide explanations.
Senior ruling party lawmakers in Japan’s parliament said on Wednesday that they are considering expanding the Self-Defense Force Act to also include violations of Japanese airspace by foreign balloons.