Pékin regularly sends fighter planes, drones and warships, occasionally balloons, around Taiwan in order to maintain its pressure on the territory over which it claims sovereignty.
The balloon was spotted at 6:21 p.m. (10:21 GMT) Sunday about 70 miles (111 kilometers) northwest of the island at an altitude of 33,000 feet (10,058 m), said the Defense Ministry, which publishes daily data on the China's military presence around Taiwan.
He left the air defense identification zone at 8:15 p.m., according to the same source.
In addition to the balloon, 12 fighter jets and seven warships were detected around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday.
A first since April
During the presidential campaign that preceded Lai Ching-te's election as Taiwan's president in January, balloons crossed the waters between Taiwan and China day and night, and some flew over the island. However, no balloon had been detected since April.
Taiwan considers this practice as a form of so-called “gray zone” harassment, that is to say hostile but not open warfare.
China, for its part, denied having sent balloons over Taiwan, accusing Taipei of trying to increase tensions with the continent.
Communist China claims Taiwan as an integral part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to take control of it.
