A record number of six Chinese balloons have been detected around Taiwan, including one above the island, the Ministry of Defense announced on Monday January 22 in Taipei. Five were spotted west of Keelung, a northern port city, and one west of southern Pingtung County flying over the archipelago, according to a map released by Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense. defense.
The ministry, which publishes daily data on the Chinese military presence around Taiwan, said they were all spotted on Sunday at an altitude between 15,000 and 17,000 feet (4,600 to 5,200 meters). This is the highest number since the ministry began regularly publishing data on balloons spotted in Taiwan’s skies in December 2023.
China, which considers the island an integral part of its territory, has vowed to one day bring it back into its fold, using force if necessary. Beijing has stepped up its military and political pressure in recent years by sending unprecedented numbers of fighter jets and warships around the island.
24 Chinese military planes registered Thursday
In February 2023, the army alerted the air authorities after spotting a balloon in its airspace, but it did not specify its origin or a more detailed location. In December, Taipei’s defense ministry began reporting the appearance of Chinese balloons around Taiwan, noting that on at least four occasions they flew directly over the archipelago.
Balloons were spotted after the January 13 presidential election, won by leader Lai Ching-te, who opposed reunification. China reiterated after its victory that it would not tolerate“separatist activities” to Taiwan, but it has not since sent an excessive number of military aircraft.
The largest incursion took place on Thursday, with Taipei reporting 24 Chinese military aircraft around the island in the space of 24 hours, eleven of which crossed the median line – an unofficial demarcation between China and Taiwan, which the first does not recognize. In September 2023, it sent 103 planes around Taiwan in the space of 24 hours, which Taipei called ” record “.