Taiwan claims to have seen no Chinese surveillance balloons

Taiwan has not observed any Chinese surveillance balloons in its area, according to the island’s defense ministry on Tuesday, as a disagreement between China and the United States over spy balloons raises fears of escalating military confrontations.

The United States military shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina on February 4.

China claimed that the balloon was a civilian research vehicle that veered off course by accident, and on Monday it accused the United States of flying surveillance balloons above China. The United States disputed such a claim.

A Taiwanese military intelligence officer stated that no Chinese surveillance balloons identical to the one shot down over the United States had been spotted near the island.

Keep Reading

“The bulk of balloons near our waterways were utilized for meteorological purposes,” the officer, Major General Huang Wen-chi, stated at a routine briefing in Taipei, adding that weather balloons did not represent a substantial security concern.

He stated that the military would demolish any balloon that approached Taiwan’s territory and presented a “serious security danger”; however, no such action has been required.

He noted that the balloons discovered near Taiwan lacked directional capabilities and were thus unlikely to be deployed for spying.

The Financial Times reported this week, citing unnamed Taiwanese sources, that the island has recorded hundreds of Chinese military balloon flights in its airspace over the past several years, which is far more than was previously known.

The government refused to comment on the findings.

Beijing claims Taiwan as its own and has increased its military actions near the island in recent years, increasing concerns that it may attempt to seize control by force.

Taiwan promises to defend itself if attacked, arguing that Beijing’s claims of sovereignty are invalid since the People’s Republic of China has never administered the island.

Read: UAE’s Unending Efforts for Humanitarian Aid

Katherine S

1/4 German, 3/4 Malaysian. I write, follow and monitor closely political news happening in Malaysia, and other happening news in the ASEAN region. Newswriter for the best ASEAN news website - The Asian Affairs.

Recent Posts

China and UAE Celebrate 40 Years of Diplomatic Relations: All the Sectors for Partnership

Celebrating 40 years of diplomatic ties, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are poised to fortify an alliance that…

November 2, 2024

What’s in Store for Squid Game Season 2: New Twists, International Adaptations, and a Bold Return to the Games

Fans of the worldwide sensation Squid Game have much to look forward to this December as the show's producer, Hwang…

November 2, 2024

TWICE Joins Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ Tour for a Seoul Spectacle in 2025

Especially when it's the internationally known British rock band Coldplay linking up with K-pop phenomenon TWICE, few events match the…

November 2, 2024

China Caught in the Crossfire: Tensions Rise as North Korea and Russia Strengthen Alliance

Tucked on a 12-story structure in northeast China, visitors flock to get a rare view of the junction of their…

November 2, 2024

Could Westeros Dragons Soon Soar into the Big Screen? ‘Game of Thrones’ Film Reportedly in Early Development

HBO's Game of Thrones has created a void in the fantasy world of television that no other show has quite…

November 1, 2024

Preparing for U.S. Election Impact: Sen. Imee Marcos Urges Self-Reliant Defense Amid Uncertain Times

Head of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Imee Marcos underlined the need of the Philippines getting ready for…

November 1, 2024

This website uses cookies.

Read More