Chinese military surveillance balloon spotted in Taiwan Strait, island’s Defence Ministry says

The Taiwan Defense Ministry reported the sighting of a Chinese military surveillance balloon in the Taiwan Strait, accompanied by a significant deployment of military aircraft and ships. The ministry disclosed that the balloon traversed southwest of the northern port city of Keelung on Thursday night, continuing eastward before potentially disappearing into the Pacific Ocean.

While Taiwan has previously issued warnings of shooting down such balloons, the ministry did not specify any actions taken. The surveillance balloon was observed flying at an altitude of approximately 6,400 meters (21,000 feet).

Additionally, the ministry noted the detection of 26 Chinese military aircraft and 10 navy ships in the 24-hour period leading up to 6 am on Friday. Fifteen of the aircraft had crossed the unofficial median line, which serves as a divider between the sides, although Beijing refuses to acknowledge it. Some of the aircraft also entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone beyond the island’s airspace.

In response to these provocations, Taiwan’s military actively monitored the situation using combat aircraft, navy vessels, and land-based missile systems. Such incursions are a recurring strategy employed by China, emphasizing the threat of force to annex Taiwan—a self-governing island that Beijing considers its own territory. These actions aim to erode Taiwan’s military capabilities and influence the morale of both the armed forces and the public, which, for the most part, remains indifferent to China’s maneuvers.

This ongoing pattern of Chinese missions has prompted Taiwan to increase its procurement of aircraft from the United States, its primary ally. Simultaneously, Taiwan is revitalizing its defense industry, including efforts to domestically produce submarines.

China vehemently protests any interactions between Taiwan and the U.S., but its assertive diplomacy has contributed to building robust bipartisan support for Taipei on Capitol Hill. In response to heightened concerns, U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged to implement stricter measures for tracking, monitoring, and potentially intercepting unknown aerial objects. This commitment comes after a series of events, including the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon traversing a significant portion of the U.S. earlier in the year, which escalated tensions over a three-week period.