On Sunday, Taiwan’s defense ministry announced that within the preceding 24 hours, it identified eight instances of Chinese fighter jets trespassing across the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Additionally, one Chinese balloon was detected during the same period.
Taiwan, asserted by China as part of its territory, has consistently raised concerns about Chinese military operations in the vicinity of the island over the last four years.
China has been stepping up its missions near Taiwan as the Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections on the island approach.
The defense ministry of Taiwan reported that Chinese fighter jets, specifically the J-10, J-11, and J-16, breached the median line at various locations in the northern and central parts of the strait.
The median line, which previously functioned as an informal boundary between the two entities, is now frequently traversed by Chinese aircraft.
Taiwan sent its own forces to monitor, the ministry said.
The ministry also disclosed the presence of another Chinese balloon in the strait, marking the latest occurrence in a series that Taiwan attributes to probable weather monitoring. These balloons are believed to be propelled by prevailing winds during this season.
The ministry indicated that the balloon was observed crossing the median line on late Saturday morning, positioned 97 nautical miles (180 km) northwest of the northern Taiwanese port city of Keelung, and flying at an altitude of approximately 20,000 feet (6,100 meters).
The balloon proceeded in an eastward direction and vanished approximately one hour later, as reported by the ministry.
The global concern over China’s possible use of balloons for espionage gained attention in February when the United States downed a Chinese surveillance balloon, claiming it as such. China contended that the balloon was a civilian craft that had inadvertently strayed off course.
