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Originally Posted by activeStick
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The debate over the vertical limit of national airspace is actually pretty interesting, and there is no internationally agreed upon ceiling. Some countries favour an exact number, like 100 km ASL, but other countries feel that if a country is unable navigate, launch, or return crafts at a particular height, then that space can't be claimed as sovereign airspace. Basically the space over a country that they can theoretically operate within. Obviously, the latter favours more advanced countries.
Other countries support a hybrid of the two where a country is guaranteed sovereign airspace to a certain height regardless of ability to use that space, but anything above that is fair game if they don't have the ability to navigate it themselves.
It would probably be good if the UN could finally hammer out a strict rule on this as it will likely become more of an issue as technology advances. We have accepted that satellites at 160 km ASL do not violate airspace, but where that line should begin isn't clear, so I guess from that stand point, China might have a point.
Personally, I feel if the U.S. used balloons at 90,000 ft and Russia or China could shoot them down, I wouldn't hold it against them and it would be within their right. Everyone spies on everyone, but that doesn't mean you should let them if you can help it.