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Taiwan detects Chinese balloons again

2023-12-18 13:41:14, Kosova & Bota CNA

Taiwan detects Chinese balloons again

Two Chinese balloons flew north of Taiwan, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said, as China stepped up pressure on the self-governing island, which it claims, ahead of presidential elections in January.

The balloons crossed the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from China and were detected on Sunday about 204 kilometers northwest of the port city of Kilungu, the Ministry said.

This is the second time this month that Taiwan has reported Chinese balloons near its territory, after one passed over Kilung on December 7.

China's potential to use weather balloons to spy on other governments came into focus earlier this year when the United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean, sparking anger in China.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry did not say whether it suspects the balloons were used for espionage. Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry has not commented on these Taiwanese claims.

Beijing has increased pressure on Taiwan by sending military aircraft and warships close to the island on an almost daily basis.

Taipei is preparing to hold presidential elections on January 13. The main candidate in the election is Vice President William Lai. He has been criticized by Beijing and China has described him as a "separatist".

Taiwan was separated from China during the civil war in 1949, but Beijing continues to claim that the island of 23 million people is Chinese territory, not ruling out the use of force to retake it./ REL





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