Taiwan claims to have detected a Chinese balloon in its air defense zone

A Chinese balloon, the first since April, was detected Sunday evening near northwest Taiwan, in the island's air defense identification zone, the Taiwanese defense ministry said Monday. Beijing 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 a.m. 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.

During the presidential campaign leading up to 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 to be a form of so-called harassment. “gray area”that is to say hostile but not open war. China has in the past denied sending balloons over Taiwan, accusing Taipei of trying to increase tensions with the mainland. Asked about the balloon by reporters on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said: “First of all, Taiwan does not have a “ministry of defense”. Besides, the question you are asking me has nothing to do with diplomacy.”

Communist China claims Taiwan as an integral part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to take control of it. Balloons from China became a political topic in early 2023 when the United States shot down what it called a spy balloon. The object contained numerous electronic devices and flew over military bases, sparking concerns on the U.S. side that Beijing could seize vital intelligence. Beijing then declared that it was a civilian aircraft which had deviated from its trajectory.