Security News > 2024 > January > Three Chinese balloons float near Taiwanese airbase

Four Chinese balloons have reportedly floated over the Taiwan Strait, three of them crossing over the island's land mass and near its Ching-Chuan-Kang air base before disappearing, according to the Taiwan's defense ministry.

An appearance of a similar Chinese balloon caused quite a stir in the US last February.

Balloons are also often detected near the island, however it is unusual for them to cross above land.

In the past, Taiwan has described the balloons as weather monitoring devices.

The appearance of the balloons over land occurred a little more than a week before Taiwan's January 13 presidential and parliamentary elections.

A week before the balloons appeared, China's defense spokesperson, Wu Qian, argued that Taiwan "Deliberately hyped up the so-called mainland military threat and played up the tension for the sake of seeking electoral benefits."

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/01/04/three_chinese_balloons_float_near/