More Chinese Balloons Over Taiwan Strait Amid Rising Tensions Ahead of Elections

Taiwan’s defense ministry reported the detection of three additional Chinese balloons flying over the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, with one of them crossing the island. This marks the latest development in a series of balloon sightings in the region over the past month, heightening tensions between Taiwan and China.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, Taiwan’s defense ministry accused China of threatening aviation safety and conducting psychological warfare on the island’s people through the deployment of these balloons, just days before key Taiwanese elections. China’s defense ministry, which had previously declined to comment on the balloons last month, has not yet responded to the recent allegations.

The potential use of balloons for espionage gained global attention last February when the United States claimed to have shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon. China insisted that the balloon was a civilian craft that accidentally drifted off course.

Amid heightened vigilance for military and political activities from China ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections this Saturday, Taiwan asserts that China is employing military and economic pressure to interfere with the elections. While China regards Taiwan as its own territory, Taiwan’s government rejects this claim.

Over the past month, Taiwan’s defense ministry has reported multiple instances of Chinese balloons flying over the Taiwan Strait. In the past week, some balloons were reported to have flown over Taiwan Island near major air bases.

In the latest incident disclosed in the ministry’s daily report on Chinese military activities, it revealed that three balloons had flown over the sensitive median line of the strait on Sunday. Only one of these balloons crossed Taiwan Island, passing its southern tip.

The balloons reportedly all headed east before disappearing. The Taiwan Strait’s median line, which historically served as an unofficial barrier between Taiwan and China, has seen increasing activity with Chinese fighter jets, drones, and now balloons regularly crossing it.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office reiterated last week that the strait’s median line “does not exist” and accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of exaggerating the mainland threat and inciting confrontation as the elections approach.