Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported a series of incursions by Chinese balloons over the Taiwan Strait and directly over the island, beginning on a Tuesday. Initially, two balloons crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, with subsequent reports on the following day of three additional balloons, one of which flew directly over Taiwan near an airbase. In total, ten balloons have been detected since the start of the year, with six Chinese spy balloons reported in December, according to Hong Kong Free Press and TaiwanPlus News. The ministry condemned these actions as a violation of Taiwan's airspace and an escalation of tensions, especially ahead of the critical presidential election, labeled as TaiwanElection. NIKKEI reported that this was the second day in a row of such activity. Additionally, MSN reported that 13x PLA aircraft and 5x PLAN vessels were tracked near the island, raising concerns of an invasion. The ministry also stated that 17 ‘airborne balloons’ have been approaching from mainland China, with daily disclosure of such activities since December. Taiwan's defense ministry accused China of cognitive warfare, aiming to affect the morale of Taiwanese citizens, and posing a serious threat to international aviation safety. A map of Chinese balloon overflights over Taiwan indicated the significant escalation of the situation. Moreover, Taiwan issued a Presidential Alert after the Chinese satellite 'Einstein Probe' was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center and flew over southern Taiwan, triggering a missile alert across the island.
#breaking Taiwan issues a rare Presidential Alert minutes after China claims it successfully launched a satellite (the "Einstein Probe") on a rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China's western Sichuan province. Taipei says it flew over southern Taiwan. https://t.co/NAaz1EkSnB
BREAKING: Taiwan's Defense Ministry says a Chinese satellite flew over the south of Taiwan at 15:04, triggering a nationwide alert sent to mobile phones.
Two missile flyover alerts just issued across Taiwan. Never seen this before. https://t.co/5zaNn8COrW
A missile alert has just gone out in Taiwan. A few hundred press are in a room with foreign minister Joseph Wu right now - he says it's a satellite launch and nothing to worry about. Clarification hopefully incoming.
Spike In Chinese Balloons Over Taiwan A “Serious Threat” https://t.co/flLauhMmWs
Sudden Spike In #Chinese Balloons Over #Taiwan A “Serious Threat” - The War Zone A graphic prepared for The War Zone by @detresfa_ shows the flightpaths of Chinese balloons launched toward Taiwan in the last month. High-altitude balloons, launched by China, are once again in… https://t.co/sWpBndXZuc
Taiwan defence ministry says it saw four Chinese balloons over Taiwan Strait https://t.co/SUF18SrC3V https://t.co/0CeLJXhgk7
Taiwanese Ministry of Defense: We detected 4 Chinese balloons over the Taiwan Strait. https://t.co/i1mbKX6Kmw
JUST IN: Taiwan says four Chinese balloons have been spotted over the Taiwan Strait
⚠️ TAIWAN DEFENCE MINISTRY SAYS IT SAW FOUR CHINESE BALLOONS OVER TAIWAN STRAIT Full Story → https://t.co/FEDvKwkkW8
🔴 TAIWAN DEFENCE MINISTRY DETECTS TWO BALLOONS FLYING OVER TAIWAN ISLAND
🔴 TAIWAN DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOTS FOUR CHINESE BALLOONS OVER TAIWAN STRAIT ON MONDAY
Sudden Spike In Chinese Balloons Over Taiwan A “Serious Threat” Story: https://t.co/MSwO4obGTa
A great map of Chinese balloon overflights over #Taiwan by @ianellisjones The direct overflights—a significant escalation—could be considered a “first strike.” https://t.co/mk0uflFIZm
Taiwan's defense ministry said it detected three more Chinese balloons flying over the Taiwan Strait, one of which crossed the island, the latest in a spate of such balloons the ministry says it has spotted over the past month https://t.co/85SQc99Nix
Ignoring Taiwan's complaints, more Chinese balloons spotted over strait https://t.co/aV6tb9CouQ https://t.co/hv1H7WX4Ju
🚨China continues its barrage of balloons violating Taiwan’s territorial airspace. The direct overflights—a significant escalation—could be considered a “first strike.” What's happening & why it matters 🧵 https://t.co/b3BWGt5WAs
🔴 TAIWAN DEFENSE MINISTRY DETECTS THREE CHINESE BALLOONS FLYING OVER TAIWAN STRAIT ON SUNDAY
CHINESE "GREY ZONE" TACTICS ESCALATE AHEAD OF TAIWAN ELECTION: RISING CONCERNS AS MYSTERIOUS BALLOONS, DEEMED A FORM OF HARASSMENT BY TAIWAN'S MILITARY, CIRCULATE THE ISLAND. AMID HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITIES, THIS SIGNALS AN ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE TO TAIWANESE SOVEREIGNTY,…
As an election in democratic Taiwan looms, Chinese balloons have appeared around the island at various times of the day -- in what its military says is a new form of "grey zone" harassment. Full story ⬇️ https://t.co/5KblRxpO7d
#Taiwan says #Chinese balloons are harassment and a threat to air safety Taiwan’s Defense Ministry accused China on Saturday of harassment and trying to affect public morale by repeatedly sending balloons over the self-governing island. A ministry analysis found that the paths… https://t.co/b6Qa3PVpKt
⚠️JUST IN: *TAIWAN SLAMS CHINESE BALLOONS AS SAFETY THREAT, PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE https://t.co/7312YqNIb5 👈 🇨🇳🇹🇼 https://t.co/XApqhlo0Gz
Taiwan slams Chinese balloons as safety threat, psychological warfare https://t.co/NQZ8ru8Uoy
Taiwan’s defense ministry condemned China for repeatedly sending balloons across the strait https://t.co/STh6e1TZkK
#Taiwan’s defense ministry has condemned Beijing for sending #balloons across the median line that separates the self-ruled island and #China, saying they pose a “serious threat” to aviation routes and are a form of harassment. https://t.co/5vNWYQbfSX
Taiwan’s defence ministry condemned China for sending balloons across the median line that separates the self-ruled island and China, saying they pose a “serious threat” to aviation routes and are a form of harassment.
NEW - Taiwan’s defence ministry condemned China for sending balloons across the median line that separates the self-ruled island and China, saying they pose a “serious threat” to aviation routes and are a form of harassment. https://t.co/IWT6On6ss8
#Taiwan reports 17 ‘airborne balloons’ approaching from mainland #China in run-up to election Floating objects seen crossing Taiwan Strait median line since December, with increased activity since New Year’s Day, according to Taipei. Taiwanese defence ministry says drones and… https://t.co/5dSyB1t1l6
Taiwan reports 17 ‘airborne balloons’ approaching from mainland China in run-up to election https://t.co/mXIRGdKrU6
Since Dec, #Taiwan reports 17 balloons from mainland China. Lu Li-shih, a former instructor at Taiwan’s naval academy, said balloons had appeared over Taiwan before, but the government chose not to disclose daily until Dec. https://t.co/JKNbT1lvzY via @scmpnews
🔴 TAIWAN DEFENSE MINISTRY: CHINESE BALLOONS USED FOR COGNITIVE WARFARE, AFFECTING MORALE OF CITIZENS
🔴 TAIWAN DEFENSE MINISTRY: CHINESE BALLOONS POSE SERIOUS THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL AVIATION ROUTES SAFETY
Another PRC balloon violated Taiwan's airspace. MND report states that 13x PLA aircraft and 5x PLAN vessels were tracked around Taiwan today. 1 of the aircraft (WZ-7) entered the de-facto ADIZ Additionally, 2x Balloons were tracked, with 1 flying over northern Taiwan. https://t.co/cF5YJGaezY
#urgent One week before Taiwan's crucial presidential election, at least 10 Chinese spy balloons flying near (or over) Taiwan in recent days. China is also releasing new images of its 3rd & most powerful aircraft carrier, Fujian, as disinformation attacks escalate. @OutFrontCNN https://t.co/sy6B7T3WA6
CHINA SPARKS FEARS OF IMMINENT TAIWAN INVASION AS MILITARY SWARMS ISLAND BY SEA AND AIR (MSN) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has tracked six Chinese military aircraft and six naval ships moving near the island nation, once again sparking fears of an invasion. One of the… https://t.co/FPs3A5v694
More Chinese Spy Balloons Ahead of High-Stakes Election in Taiwan Col. John Mills says the CCP’s four spy balloons over Taiwan is advanced force reconnaissance. Col. Mills tells @jfradioshow that it seems Biden doesn’t understand the gravity of President Xi’s pledge to reunify… https://t.co/zXyuyapUbM
9 Chinese balloons detected in Taiwan Strait since start of year | Taiwan News | 2024-01-04 11:39:00 https://t.co/deid3OVKV0
#Taiwan reports #China sent 4 suspected spy balloons over the island Taiwan’s Defense Ministry says China sent four balloons over the island, three of which passed near to a key air force base. Taiwan's Defense Ministry said that China sent four balloons over the island, three… https://t.co/V6A8arNC7r
A surge in sightings of balloons from China flying over Taiwan has drawn the attention of the island’s military and struck some experts as a calculatedly ambiguous warning to voters weeks before its presidential election. https://t.co/PfNbxwIBOa
Three Chinese balloons float near Taiwanese airbase https://t.co/EtbrrkGoXm
Taiwan’s defense ministry says it has detected three more Chinese balloons flying across the Taiwan Strait, and one of those flew over the island, the second day in a row it has reported such activity. https://t.co/V1GpjJMpMh
China keeps sending balloons… Chinese balloons were seen over Taiwan for a second day in a row. This time, 3 balloons entered the airspace over Taiwan. Elections are about the be held in Taiwan in the coming days… https://t.co/CEkjPqi8OP
#Chinese Balloons Fly Over #Taiwan for 2nd Day in a Row Taiwan's defense ministry says three Chinese balloons flew over the country on Tuesday, with another crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Via TaiwanPlus News. Why no interception? https://t.co/lmhpRmYZDB
Taiwan spots more Chinese balloons, says one flew over island https://t.co/9YEk89FVDV https://t.co/K6cDL41vfl
Nine days until #TaiwanElection, the Defense Ministry detected three Chinese balloons crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, bringing the number of balloons detected around Taiwan since the start of 2024 to 10. https://t.co/OKzn20sxCp
As Taiwan's presidential election approaches, high-altitude balloons from mainland China have drifted towards Taiwan for two consecutive days. According to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense on January 3rd, by the evening of January 2nd, four more Chinese high-altitude… https://t.co/qpwdaZCx8t
🔴 TAIWAN DEFENSE MINISTRY DETECTS THREE ADDITIONAL CHINESE BALLOONS FLYING ACROSS TAIWAN STRAIT, ONE PASSING OVER TAIWAN ISLAND
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has reported that four Chinese spy balloons were detected floating over the island nation this week... Read more: https://t.co/KxS1Y59Num ⬆️ ⬆️ ⬆️
A flurry of balloons from China has crossed over Taiwan, passing over the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. This comes just days before Taiwan holds its presidential and parliamentary elections. https://t.co/2QKabnstx4
China surveillance missions spotted in the sky over Taiwan https://t.co/xquKpQOSvW
🔸 Taiwan reports China sent 4 suspected spy balloons over the island TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's Defense Ministry said that China sent four balloons over the island, three of which passed near to a key air force base. The reported incursions on Tuesday come as China has been…
CHINESE BALLOONS FLY OVER #TAIWAN FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW - NIKKEI
A year after a Chinese balloon over the U.S. sent bilateral ties into free fall, balloons from China have again been spotted floating over sensitive territory—this time, it's Taiwan, days away from a tight election. @joyuwang https://t.co/JauSXooe3i https://t.co/JauSXooe3i
Chinese Spy Balloons Spotted Over Taiwan Ahead of Critical Elections. Read more: https://t.co/KxS1Y59Num Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has reported that four Chinese spy balloons were detected f...
🔸 Chinese balloons fly over Taiwan for two days in a row TAPIEI (Kyodo) -- Chinese balloons flew over Taiwan again for the second day in a row, the island's Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The ministry said four balloons were detected Tuesday crossing the median line of the…
🇨🇳 CHINESE BALLOONS FLY OVER TAIWAN FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW - NIKKEI
CHINESE BALLOONS FLY OVER TAIWAN FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW - NIKKEI
The Taiwanese defense ministry has reported four Chinese balloons floating across the self-ruled island days ahead of a pivotal election https://t.co/u1OS8fQ4YJ https://t.co/u1OS8fQ4YJ
China sends more weather balloons into Taiwan's airspace https://t.co/KqQqsw8lIm
Taiwan spots Chinese balloons over island near major air base https://t.co/99vImRWT1s
NEW - Taiwan detects four Chinese balloons ahead of election https://t.co/zVvUHVSMox
Four Chinese balloons have been detected moving across the median line separating #Taiwan from #China, with three flying directly above the island, Taiwan’s defense ministry says. https://t.co/WSR6LgwqBU
#Taiwan detects four #Chinese balloons ahead of election https://t.co/OLrCgCpdpZ
Three Chinese balloons flew across Taiwan island on Tuesday and near an air base, the Taiwanese defense ministry said, the first time it has reported them crossing the island since reporting a spate of such balloons in the Taiwan Strait starting last month https://t.co/lIn9byLda0
Another four Chinese balloons were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, with three of them later flying over the island of Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Wednesday. https://t.co/frpAwG1qqY
A flurry of Chinese weather balloons crossed Taiwan for the first time since the island began releasing such data, as tensions with Beijing flare ahead of the self-ruled democracy’s presidential election this month https://t.co/aOjRlvQgrC
Taiwan says three Chinese balloons flew across the island https://t.co/DCpl5zVcOx https://t.co/1qb7jLEfsq
🔴 TAIWAN DEFENSE MINISTRY: THREE CHINESE BALLOONS FLEW OVER TAIWAN ON TUESDAY
🎈Taiwan authorities announced the discovery of a balloon launched by the Beijing army, which flew over the island of Taiwan https://t.co/DkHvLYq2Kd
Taiwan's military says a Chinese balloon has flown directly over the island. https://t.co/Jg9qG0AAqF
#Chinese Balloon Flies Over #Taiwan Via TaiwanPlus News. https://t.co/2gJfUzRmjx
Remember those spy balloons? They're back... "Two Chinese balloons were detected moving across the median line separating Taiwan from China, with one flying directly above the island, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said Tuesday." https://t.co/ROgJopL90Q
🇹🇼 🇨🇳 NEW YEAR, SAME OLD CHINA SPYING ON TAIWAN Taiwanese authorities have reported spotting two new Chinese spy balloons flying over the Taiwan Strait. In December, six Chinese spy balloons were spotted over the region. Source: Hong Kong Free Press Photo: ET from Dec 2023 https://t.co/ASsGIXiZGm
NEW: Taiwan detects two Chinese balloons in new year https://t.co/kF8c3HOW2Q
Suspected Chinese balloon flies directly over Taiwan https://t.co/rvt8lDuLHI
Identification of two Chinese balloons over Taiwan The Ministry of Defense of Taiwan announced on Tuesday that it has identified two Chinese balloons that crossed the middle line of the Taiwan Strait the day before. Taiwan's Ministry of Defense statement explained that the two… https://t.co/83ab3gTkvu