By Deutsche Welle
Feb 11, 2024, 12:50 PM EST
Eight Chinese hot air balloons were spotted around Taiwan for the second day, and five of them flew over the islandThe Taiwanese Ministry of Defense reported this Sunday (02/11/2024).
The eight balloons were detected this Saturday, the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the Ministry reported.
According to the Ministry, They flew over at an altitude of between 3,657 and 10,668 metersof which five flew over the northern and central regions of the island before disappearing.
Eight other balloons were also detected on Friday, February 9, the highest number since December 2023, when the Ministry began to regularly disseminate information about these devices.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and does not rule out the use of force to regain control of the island.
Beijing has intensified military pressure in recent years, sending fighter jets and naval ships around the island almost daily, and more and more balloons fly over Taiwanese territory.
“Gray zone” tactics
The Ministry of Defense reported on December 8, 2023 for the first time the presence of a Chinese hot air balloon beyond the strait dividing line.
Since then, TAIWAN detected 84 hot air balloons in the vicinity of its territory25 of which flew over the island.
Concern about hot air balloons of Chinese origin dates back to January 2023, when the emergence of one of these devices in US territory caused the suspension of the trip that the Secretary of State, Antony BlinkenI was planning to do to China at that time.
For the Taiwanese Government, sending the balloons through the strait is part of the “gray zone” tactics undertaken by the Chinese Army to instill fear among the island’s population.
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