By
The Associated Press
China announced Wednesday that it will take action against US entities linked to the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the country's east coast.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin did not provide details or identify the targets of the measures during a briefing.
China claims the balloon was an
unmanned weather aircraft
that accidentally veered off course and accuses the United States of exaggerating by shooting it down with a missile fired from an F-22 fighter.
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Since the downing of the balloon on February 4, the United States has sanctioned six Chinese entities linked to Beijing's aerospace programs.
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The US House of Representatives later voted unanimously to condemn China for a "blatant violation" of US sovereignty and its efforts to "mislead the international community through false claims about its intelligence-gathering campaigns."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also canceled a visit to Beijing that many hoped would stabilize ties that have soured amid disputes over trade, human rights, Taiwan and China's claim to the South China Sea.
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Although China denies the balloon was a military device, it has yet to say which government department or company was responsible.
After initially expressing regret over the balloon's entry into US airspace, China has again leveled spying accusations against Washington, along with its threats of retaliation.
"China strongly opposes and
will take countermeasures
in accordance with the law against relevant US entities that undermine China's sovereignty and security," Wang told the briefing on Wednesday.
China will "resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and its legitimate rights and interests," Wang added.
The US ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, also declared on Wednesday that the intrusion of the Chinese balloon was part of a pattern of aggressive behavior by the Asian giant.
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Emanuel recalled China's recent emission of military-grade lasers on a Philippine coast guard patrol vessel, the harassment of US planes by Chinese planes, and China's opening of illegal police stations in the US, Ireland and other countries. .
“For me, the balloon is not an isolated incident
,” Emanuel said.
If China wants to be a respected member of the international community, “then it acts in a manner appropriate to certain basic premises.
That is to say, it does not open police stations in other countries ignoring their laws as if their laws had no limits”, he stated.
“This is not exactly the qualities and characteristics of the good neighbor policy,” the ambassador added, referring to China's rapprochement with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Japan's Defense Ministry said Tuesday that at least three flying objects sighted in Japanese airspace since 2019 were strongly believed to be Chinese spy balloons.
He assured that he has protested and asked Beijing for explanations.
Senior lawmakers from Japan's ruling party said on Wednesday they were considering expanding the Self-Defense Force law to also include violations of Japanese airspace by foreign balloons.
