January 4, 2024 at 05:24AM
Chinese balloons were spotted over the Taiwan Strait and one crossed into Taiwanese airspace, raising concerns ahead of the January 13 elections. Last year a similar balloon was shot down in US airspace; suspicion arose when it was discovered to be using a US internet provider to transmit data to China. China denies intentional actions.
The meeting notes from the report detail the recent appearance of Chinese balloons over the Taiwan Strait, with three of them crossing over the island’s land mass and near its Ching-Chuan-Kang air base before disappearing. It is reported that the balloons were accompanied by People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and navy (PLAN) vessels. This event occurred a little over a week before Taiwan’s January 13 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Additionally, the report references a similar incident from last February in the US, where a Chinese balloon caused a stir. An American intelligence assessment found that a balloon shot down in US airspace last year used a commercial US internet provider to send navigation and location data to China. Following the incident, the US Department of Commerce added entities to its blacklist for their support to China’s military modernization efforts.
China claims that Taiwan is part of its territory, and its rhetoric has emphasized the desire for the “reunification” of Taiwan and China. It is noted that the translation of statements may vary slightly among media publications.
The appearance of these balloons has raised concerns and questions about their purpose and the geopolitical implications, particularly given the timing with Taiwan’s upcoming elections.