Espionage by China? Taiwan’s military reports suspicious balloons

Since the end of last year, suspicious balloons have appeared several times around Taiwan – probably from China. Now there was another incident. This is causing unrest before the election on the island in a few days.

Taiwan’s military says it has discovered four suspicious balloons from China over its territory. Three of the four flying objects flew directly over Taiwanese territory after appearing southwest of the Ching-Chuan-Kang military base in Taichung city, according to a graphic released by the Taipei Defense Ministry. It was said that the balloons had approached the ground to a good 3,650 meters.

Several balloons since December

Balloons had already been discovered over Taiwan the day before, and since December 2023 the authorities have found such flying objects in the Taiwan Strait in six cases. The 180 kilometer wide strait separates the island from mainland China. The balloons usually disappeared a short time later.

Regarding the balloons that have now been identified, the ministry said it would “closely monitor” them and take “appropriate measures” depending on their nature, height and possible dangers.

The incident was reminiscent of the overflight of a Chinese balloon in the USA. Washington accused Beijing of using it for espionage. China, however, said the balloon had drifted and was used to measure weather. The USA shot the aircraft out of the sky.

Ongoing conflict with China

The relationship between China and Taiwan had recently deteriorated significantly again. Since the political split between mainland China and Taiwan in 1949, Beijing has viewed the democratic, self-governing island as its own part of the country that it wants to reunite with the mainland. In recent years, the presence of Chinese warships and army aircraft around Taiwan has increased significantly.

The conflict is also an issue in the upcoming elections in Taiwan. On January 13th, the country will vote on the office of president and a new parliament will also be elected. Incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen will not run again after two terms in office. Your Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with its leading candidate Lai Ching-te advocates independence from China.

In contrast, the candidates from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) are in favor of friendlier relations with Beijing. The outcome of the election is likely to be crucial for the future relationship between Taipei and Beijing.

Beijing is threatening the upcoming election

Taiwan has long been inundated by a flood of fake news ahead of the election. There are also threats from China. The chairman of China’s state-run Cross-Strait Relations Association and a senior politician, Zhang Zhijun, said in his New Year’s address that the people of Taiwan have an important choice to make. It’s about war or peace, prosperity or decline.

Chinese state and party leader Xi Jinping did not mention the election in his New Year’s address. But he emphasized that the unification of Taiwan with China was historically unavoidable. Both sides should work toward this big and simple goal.

With information from Benjamin Eyssel, ARD Studio Beijing