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Photo of a balloon from China spotted over the USA in February 2023
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Joe Granita / ZUMA Wire / IMAGO
Taiwan has reported another violation of the unofficial border with China by balloons from the People's Republic. Eight balloons crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait in the past 24 hours, more than ever before. The Ministry of Defense announced this on Saturday (local time).
According to the Defense Ministry, two of the balloons flew directly over the northern part of the island. The others reportedly approached the coast before disappearing, with one flying over the sea in northern Taiwan. The objects would have reached an altitude of around 4,500 to 11,500 meters.
The median line of the Taiwan Strait is regularly flown over by Chinese balloons and aircraft. Taiwan has been monitoring flight movements with systematic measurements since December.
The exact purpose of the balloons from China is controversial. Taiwan calls it a threat to aviation safety and an attempt at psychological warfare. The Ministry of Defense in Taipei says they will monitor the situation and respond appropriately.
Repeated complaints
Last month, the Chinese government dismissed repeated complaints from Taiwan about the balloons, saying they were for meteorological purposes and should not be played up for political purposes.
The Chinese government views Taiwan, which has been governed democratically for decades, as a breakaway province. Most recently, President Xi Jinping announced in his New Year's address that Taiwan and China would "certainly" be reunified.
The overflights are reminiscent of an incident in February 2023. A Chinese balloon flew over the USA before it was shot down by the American military. At the time, the US government accused China of using the balloon for espionage purposes. At that time, Beijing also spoke of a weather balloon for meteorological measurements. In June 2023, the US Department of Defense announced that the balloon had presumably not collected any data.
Löw/DPA/Reuters