Experts see message in Chinese balloons flying over Taiwan

Some analysts see these objects as an intentionally ambiguous reminder to voters that Beijing is watching them.
A surge in sightings of Chinese balloons flying over Taiwan caught the attention of the island's military and struck some experts as an intentionally ambiguous warning to voters weeks before the presidential election.
Recent balloons have mostly remained off the coast of Taiwan. On Monday, however, one of them flew over the island, according to ministry descriptions of their route. Of the four spotted on Tuesday, three flew over Taiwan and two crossed the east coast of the island, facing the Pacific Ocean. Another flew over the island on Wednesday.
Taiwanese reports also noted the proximity of some balloons to military bases on the island. Of the four reported Tuesday, three were first detected between 120 and 184 miles from Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taichung city. Taiwan's Defense Ministry declined to say how far they may have flown from the base.
The balloons do not appear to pose an immediate military threat to Taiwan, an autonomous democracy. of 23 million inhabitants that Beijing considers its territory. Taiwan's Defense Ministry said last month that the balloons appeared to be intended to collect atmospheric data, but it declined to give details of those detected this week.
"The Ministry of National Defense closely monitors and tracks them, responds appropriately, and also evaluates and analyzes their drift patterns,” Major General Sun Li-fang said on Thursday, spokesperson for the ministry, in response to questions about the balloons.
Taiwan has, until now at least, felt none of the concern that has seized many Americans last year when a massive high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon flew over the U.S. China denied the balloon was intended for espionage, but Washington didn't buy that line , and the dispute deteriorated relations for many months.
ImageA surveillance balloon has was shot down off the coast of South Carolina in 2023. China denied the balloon was intended for espionage, but Washington didn't buy that line.Credit...Randall Hill/Reuters< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">The Taiwanese are accustomed to Chinese military flights near the island, and news of the balloons has spread...

World Jan 5, 2024 0 33 Add to Reading List

Experts see message in Chinese balloons flying over Taiwan

Some analysts see these objects as an intentionally ambiguous reminder to voters that Beijing is watching them.

A surge in sightings of Chinese balloons flying over Taiwan caught the attention of the island's military and struck some experts as an intentionally ambiguous warning to voters weeks before the presidential election.

Recent balloons have mostly remained off the coast of Taiwan. On Monday, however, one of them flew over the island, according to ministry descriptions of their route. Of the four spotted on Tuesday, three flew over Taiwan and two crossed the east coast of the island, facing the Pacific Ocean. Another flew over the island on Wednesday.

Taiwanese reports also noted the proximity of some balloons to military bases on the island. Of the four reported Tuesday, three were first detected between 120 and 184 miles from Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taichung city. Taiwan's Defense Ministry declined to say how far they may have flown from the base.

The balloons do not appear to pose an immediate military threat to Taiwan, an autonomous democracy. of 23 million inhabitants that Beijing considers its territory. Taiwan's Defense Ministry said last month that the balloons appeared to be intended to collect atmospheric data, but it declined to give details of those detected this week.

"The Ministry of National Defense closely monitors and tracks them, responds appropriately, and also evaluates and analyzes their drift patterns,” Major General Sun Li-fang said on Thursday, spokesperson for the ministry, in response to questions about the balloons.

Taiwan has, until now at least, felt none of the concern that has seized many Americans last year when a massive high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon flew over the U.S. China denied the balloon was intended for espionage, but Washington didn't buy that line , and the dispute deteriorated relations for many months.

ImageA surveillance balloon has was shot down off the coast of South Carolina in 2023. China denied the balloon was intended for espionage, but Washington didn't buy that line.Credit...Randall Hill/Reuters< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">The Taiwanese are accustomed to Chinese military flights near the island, and news of the balloons has spread...