Taiwan has described the Chinese balloons as a form of ‘grey zone’ harassment, a tactic that falls short of an act of war [File: Wally Santana/AP]
AL JAZEERA | Published November 25, 2024
Taipei’s defence ministry says 12 Chinese military aircraft and seven warships were detected until early Monday.
Taiwan’s defence ministry has reported that a Chinese balloon had been detected over the sea to the island’s northwest, the first time since April it has flagged such an incident.
The ministry reported on Monday that the latest balloon was spotted at 6:21pm (10:21 GMT) on Sunday about 111km (69 miles) northwest of Keelung City at an altitude of 33,000 feet (10,058 metres).
It entered the island’s air defence identification zone and disappeared at 8:15pm, according to the ministry, which releases daily data on China’s military presence around Taiwan.
As well as the balloon, 12 Chinese military aircraft and seven warships were detected around Taiwan in the 24 hours to early Monday, the ministry said.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly declared that it could forcefully stop Taipei in case it declares independence.
Beijing regularly deploys fighter jets, drones and warships around Taiwan, and occasionally balloons, as it keeps up military pressure.
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SOURCE: www.aljazeera.com
RELATED: Taiwan’s Defence Ministry reports sighting of Chinese balloon
DIMSUM DAILY | Published November 25, 2024
(Taipei) Taiwan’s Defence Ministry on Monday reported the sighting of a Chinese balloon over the sea to the north of Taiwan, marking the first such incident since April. This occurrence comes as tensions escalate with Beijing, which Taiwan accuses of intensifying its harassment campaign ahead of the island’s presidential elections in January.
The ministry noted that the balloon was spotted 111km north of Keelung Port at 6.21pm local time on Sunday, and disappeared after two hours at an altitude of 10km, without entering Taiwanese airspace. This incident is seen as part of China’s ongoing grey-zone warfare tactics—efforts to wear down Taiwan through continuous, low-level provocations without engaging in direct military conflict.
In addition to the balloon, Taiwan’s military tracked 12 Chinese aircraft and seven warships around the island within the same 24-hour period, highlighting a persistent military presence in the region.
China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has countered previous complaints from Taiwan regarding such balloon activities, stating they are merely for meteorological research and accusing Taipei of politicising these actions.
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SOURCE: www.dimsumdaily.hk
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