While the whole country was focused on election excitement, all eyes turned to the sky, and the Chinese high-altitude balloon left its mark on the election night. Balloon flights, which have been reported every day since the beginning of the year in the skies of Taiwan, continued on election night.
SEEN NEAR THE CITY
In the statement made on the Taiwan Ministry of Defense’s account on the social networking site
It was noted that the balloon, which passed the air and sea line that is assumed to limit the parties’ areas of influence in the Taiwan Strait, flew on a line close to Taipei on the island’s coast.
BALLOON FLIGHTS INCREASED BEFORE THE ELECTIONS
Before the elections in Taiwan, it was observed that the flights of Chinese high-altitude balloons around the island increased.
The number of high-altitude balloons detected around the Island has reached 38 since December 17, 2023, when it was first mentioned in the Ministry of Defense’s posts.
At least one Chinese balloon flight has been reported every day since the beginning of the year.
While it was suspected that the balloons carried electronic intelligence equipment, it was expressed that the flights could be instant intelligence gathering activities of the Beijing administration during the election process.
It was commented that the presence of balloons around the island could be an action by Beijing to influence the Taiwanese people during the election process and to emphasize its claim to sovereignty.
Spokespersons of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to questions about the existence of the balloons by saying “they were not aware of the situation and the issue has nothing to do with foreign relations.”
LAI CHING-TE, THE CANDIDATE OF THE GOVERNING PARTY, WON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Election results in Taiwan have also been announced. According to the inconclusive results reported by the Central Election Commission, Lai won with 40.5 percent of the votes in the election in which 99.7 percent of the ballot boxes were opened.
Lai’s closest rival, New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih, candidate of the main opposition Nationalist Party (Koumintang/KMT), received 33.49 percent of the votes, and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) candidate Ko Wen-je received 26.46 percent. He was able to get the exam.
While Lai carries the DPP to its third term in power with his election victory, he will be the leader of the government on the Island for the next 4 years.
Former Taiwan Representative to Washington Hsiao Bi-khim, who competed with Lai as the Vice Presidential candidate in the election, will also serve as his deputy.
THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES CONTINUES
Taiwan, which China claims is part of its territory, has had de facto independence since 1949. The separation between mainland China and Taiwan, which emerged after the civil war, still continues.
The Beijing administration, which has increased its military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, emphasizes that it will not exclude the use of force if necessary to reunify the island with the mainland.
(AA)