Beijing on Monday accused the United States (U.S.) of having flown more than 10 illegal balloons over China in the past year.

 

This, it said in a diplomatic spat triggered by the detection and downing of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon in U.S. airspace.

 

“The U.S. should first reflect upon itself and change course, instead of smearing other countries and inciting confrontation.

 

“It is also quite common for U.S. high altitude balloons to enter into other countries,’’ Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin told the media in Beijing.

 

Washington also sent aircraft and warships to gather information on China, the spokesperson noted, adding that this year 64 sorties had been recorded in the South China Sea.

 

China claimed a large part of the disputed sea area.

 

The international arbitration court in The Hague rejected the claims in 2016.

 

In spite of the ruling, Beijing is building military installations there.

 

“It’s quite clear to the global community which country is the number one spy empire in the world,’’ Wenbin said.

 

He referred also to the U.S. surveillance activities and its large spy network.

 

The U.S. had monitored calls and chat messages by the leaders of European countries including Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands, the spokesperson said.

 

Wenbin reiterated that the Chinese balloon that entered U.S. airspace last week was an entirely unexpected isolated event caused by force majeure.

 

He said he did not have any information on any of the other unidentified unmanned objects detected over the country.

 

Washington has now shot down an overall four unmanned objects, officials said on Sunday, with the latest being downed over Lake Huron on the order of U.S. President Joe Biden.