China’s foreign ministry says the US has flown balloons into its airspace more than 10 times in the past year.
The accusation comes after the US on 4 February shot down a suspected spy balloon over its airspace, which China said was a civilian balloon.
Relations between the two countries have since deteriorated. In recent days, the US says it has also shot down a number of other unidentified objects.
Questioned on Monday, Beijing said the US had made many airspace breaches.
“It’s not uncommon as well for the US to illegally enter the airspace of other countries,” said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin at a regular press briefing.
“Since last year alone, US balloons have illegally flown above China more than 10 times without any approval from Chinese authorities.
“The first thing the US side should do is start with a clean slate, undergo some self-reflection, instead of smearing and accusing China,” he added.
He said Beijing had responded to the incursions in a “responsible and professional” manner.
“If you want to know more about US high-altitude balloons illegally entering China’s airspace, I suggest you refer to the US side,” he said.
Chinese state-affiliated media reported over the weekend that an unidentified flying object had been spotted off the country’s east coast, and that the military was preparing to shoot it down.
Washington has yet to respond to the allegations from Beijing.
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