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.
THE BALLOON THAT MADE ITS MARK ON ELECTION NIGHT
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 coast.
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.
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.
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.”