China on Wednesday stated excessive altitude balloons belonging to the US flew over its distant Xinjiang and Tibet areas and vowed to take countermeasures towards US entities, which undermine Chinese language sovereignty, as the continuing diplomatic dispute over the “balloon incident” continued to immediate claims and counter-claims from each side.

Chinese language international ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, had earlier asserted that US balloons had trespassed into Chinese language territory at the least 10 occasions since Might 2022 with out sharing particulars.

On Wednesday, Wang stated US balloons have been noticed over the autonomous areas of Xinjiang and Tibet, each areas the place Beijing has been accused of huge scale human rights violations by Washington-led western nations.

China has denied the accusations.

Wang didn’t say when the balloons have been noticed.

“With out the approval of the related authorities in China, these balloons have illegally flown over China’s airspace at the least 10 occasions, together with over northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Area and southwest China’s Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Area,” Wang stated, in line with the World Occasions tabloid.

The present dispute between the world’s two largest economies follows the US navy’s taking pictures down of what it alleged was a Chinese language “spy balloon” off the southern Carolina coast earlier this month.

Dismissing the spying costs, Beijing has stated the balloon was a civilian analysis vessel and that Washington had completely overreacted.

“China has repeatedly defined to the US that Chinese language civilian airships flew into the US airspace as a result of drive majeure, however the latter uncared for to say that a US balloon illegally flew over the Chinese language airspace with out China’s approval, and in addition accused China of spreading false info,” Wang stated.

“The US accused the Chinese language airship of flying into the US airspace and violating American sovereignty, however how will the US clarify unlawful balloons flying over China’s airspace,” Wang requested.

The Joe Biden-administration has additionally added six Chinese language entities related to Beijing’s suspected surveillance balloon programme to an export blacklist, additional angering China and prompting speak of retaliation.

Wang, in line with the World Occasions, urged the US to cease smearing China and deceptive the American public and worldwide neighborhood whereas China reserves the suitable to take “additional actions” if vital.

“The US has abused drive, overreacted, escalated the state of affairs, and used this as a pretext to illegally sanction Chinese language corporations and establishments,” Wang stated, in line with a Reuters report.

“China is firmly against this and can take countermeasures towards related US entities that undermine China’s sovereignty and safety in accordance with the legislation,” Wang stated.