TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Seven Chinese balloons have been detected within 24 hours around Taiwan.
The Ministry of National Defense said six Chinese balloons were tracked over waters off Taiwan’s western and northern coasts from 8:35 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. They were first detected in the north and west sectors of the air defense identification zone, or ADIZ, at altitudes ranging from 4,876 meters to 6,096 meters.
Three of the balloons flew northeast from the median line in the northern sector of the ADIZ. One balloon flew northwest from the median line and disappeared over Taiwan's northwest territorial waters.
One balloon flew northeast from the median line and disappeared northwest of Taichung. Another was detected heading east in Taiwan's west contiguous zone and flew across the country's center before disappearing near Hualien.
In addition, at 7:20 a.m. on Friday, a seventh Chinese balloon was detected at an altitude of 6,096 meters moving east from the median line and entering Taiwan's west contiguous zone. At 7:50 a.m., it disappeared at the western boundary of Taiwan's territorial waters 231 km southwest of Keelung City.
Chou Yu-ping (周宇平), a retired Air Force officer, told PTS News the reconnaissance benefits the PLA in deploying future weapons, conducting electronic frequency reconnaissance, and targeting critical civilian infrastructure.
