Date: December 19, 2023, In a move that raises tensions in the region, two Chinese balloons were detected flying north of Taiwan, crossing the sensitive Taiwan Strait, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry. The balloons were reported to be about 110 nautical miles (204 kilometers) northwest of Keelung, a northern port city, on Sunday.
This incident marks the second time this month that Taiwan has reported the presence of Chinese balloons near its territory. The earlier instance occurred on December 7 when a Chinese balloon crossed southwest of Keelung. The Defense Ministry did not specify whether it suspected the balloons might have been utilized for spying, but concerns have been raised globally about the potential for such balloons to be employed for intelligence-gathering purposes.
China’s Foreign Ministry has not immediately commented on the matter. The increased use of military aircraft and warships by Beijing near Taiwan in recent times has heightened tensions in the region. This latest incident comes ahead of Taiwan’s presidential election scheduled for January 13.
As Taipei prepares for the election, the current Vice President and front-runner, William Lai of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, has faced criticism from Beijing, which views him as a separatist. Lai, however, has expressed a desire to maintain peace and the status quo in relations with China.
Taiwan, which split from China in 1949 amid a civil war, remains a contentious issue, with Beijing considering the island as its territory. The Chinese government has been escalating its pressure on Taiwan, both politically and militarily, with the potential use of surveillance balloons adding another dimension to the complex geopolitical situation in the region.
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