Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence stated Tuesday that two Chinese balloons were detected traveling across the median line separating Taiwan from China, with one floating directly above the island.
Late January 1, two balloons were sighted crossing the median line across the Taiwan Strait, a crucial waterway separating the island from China near the western city of Chiayi and Keelung in the north.
The ministry’s accompanying graphic showed one balloon heading east immediately above the island after arriving northwest of Chiayi on the western shore.
“They were at the altitude of approximately 30,000 and 32,000 feet (9-10 kilometres)”, the statement reads.
It went on to say, “The balloons headed northeast and disappeared at 23:43 yesterday and 00:43 today”.
Chinese balloon sightings began last month as the island’s presidential election on January 13 approaches.
Taiwanese officials have reported six cases in December so far.
In February, the United States fired down what it called a spy balloon over its territory, prompting Beijing to claim that the craft was a civilian airship blown off course.
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