Taiwan Reports Sighting of Six Chinese Balloons Amid Rising Tensions
Taiwan's Ministry of Defense detects Chinese balloons and increased military activity in the region.
On Friday, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense announced that it had detected six Chinese balloons around the island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.
The balloons were observed over a 24-hour period up to 6:00 AM local time (22:00 GMT Thursday).
During the same timeframe, the Ministry reported the sighting of nine military aircraft, six warships, and two Chinese vessels near the island.
China regularly dispatches fighter jets, drones, and warships, including occasionally balloons, in the vicinity of Taiwan as part of its strategy to exert pressure on the self-governing island, which Beijing claims sovereignty over.
The Chinese government routinely denies sending balloons over Taiwan and accuses Taipei of attempting to escalate tensions.
The situation regarding the balloons escalated politically in early 2023 when the United States shot down what it described as a surveillance balloon.
In recent years, Beijing has increased its military presence around Taiwan, sending warplanes and vessels in a nearly daily show of military might, amid ongoing tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
The balloons were observed over a 24-hour period up to 6:00 AM local time (22:00 GMT Thursday).
During the same timeframe, the Ministry reported the sighting of nine military aircraft, six warships, and two Chinese vessels near the island.
China regularly dispatches fighter jets, drones, and warships, including occasionally balloons, in the vicinity of Taiwan as part of its strategy to exert pressure on the self-governing island, which Beijing claims sovereignty over.
The Chinese government routinely denies sending balloons over Taiwan and accuses Taipei of attempting to escalate tensions.
The situation regarding the balloons escalated politically in early 2023 when the United States shot down what it described as a surveillance balloon.
In recent years, Beijing has increased its military presence around Taiwan, sending warplanes and vessels in a nearly daily show of military might, amid ongoing tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
