China’s unwelcome Lunar New Year gift to Taiwan was a swarm of mysterious balloons, 16 of which have crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line since Friday. At least six of the balloons passed over northern and central Taiwan.
The balloon was flying between 12,000 feet and 35,000 feet. Due to sightings on Friday and Saturday, total number Number of Chinese balloons detected around Taiwan from December to 1983.
The number of balloon accidents has increased significantly in the run-up to Taiwan’s presidential election. election In the January 13 election, Vice President and anti-communist candidate William Lai Ching-toku, who was chosen to succeed outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, won.
Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-de celebrates victory in Taipei, Taiwan, January 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense reluctant comment Regarding China’s balloons, officials said Said The six balloons that passed over Taiwan’s land on Saturday set a single-day record for such overflights.
This was revealed by private security analysts. South China Morning Post (SCMP) said on Monday that the object was likely a weather balloon equipped with standard weather observation equipment, but could still be collecting useful information about Taiwan for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). It appears to fit into Beijing’s exhausting “gray zone” strategy, he said. And it is demoralizing Taiwan by applying sustained pressure that never rises to the level of blatant military provocation.
“After sending fighter jets into our air defense identification zone, the People’s Liberation Army went a step further by launching a series of balloons across the median line,” said Chie Chung, a senior analyst at the National Policy Foundation in Taipei. Ta. SCMP.
Chie continued:
This means that the People’s Liberation Army sought to “inland” the Taiwan Strait by first denying the existence of the median line and then denying Japan’s jurisdiction over its airspace. The People’s Liberation Army not only oppresses our airspace, but also intends to create a new status quo in which there is no legal border between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Chie was referring to the long-standing informal understanding that the median line in the Taiwan Strait acts as a barrier to prevent provocations and misunderstandings. Chinese ships and aircraft generally remained on their side of the median line, and so did Taiwan.
China officially was denied The median line will be raised in April 2023, and he said he would no longer hesitate to send PLA fighters into the middle of the Taiwan Strait.Over the past two years, China has sent Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) is a large group of military aircraft that extends beyond the country’s airspace, an area usually politely avoided by foreign military aircraft.
China’s air invasion is demoralizing, underscoring the point that Taiwan has no territorial obligations that Beijing must respect. On a practical level, “gray zone” incursions have exhausted Taiwan’s much smaller air force, forcing it to constantly respond.
Retired Taiwanese Air Force General Chan Yan-ting reminded us: SCMP This means that weather balloons can easily double as reconnaissance balloons.
The PLA will be able to learn about wind direction, air and ocean currents, cold and hot fronts, temperature, humidity, and jet flow at different altitudes around Taiwan at different times. This would make it easier to plan air and sea attacks against Taiwan.
Just like the infamous Chinese spy balloon Analysts say Taiwan is reluctant to shoot down Chinese balloons due to debris damaging ground and potentially injuring civilians during a planned invasion over the United States in February 2023. He said he was reluctant.
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