Taiwan has accused China of carrying out “dozens” of incursions into its airspace with spy balloons similar to the one shot down over the United States last week, further contributing to rising tensions as China encircles Taiwan with military exercises.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense stated this weekend that China has sent surveillance balloons into its airspace at a rate of about one a month for years. Taiwanese officials believe the balloons are used to measure atmospheric data that can help improve the accuracy of China’s radar and missile systems, according to Taiwan News.
Both China and the US held extensive military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region this weekend. The US Navy and Marine Corps conducted joint exercises, and China is now encircling Taiwan for another series of military exercises that echo their unprecedented buildup since the fall.
Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives voted to condemn China for sending its surveillance balloon across the US in early February. However, China rejected the resolution during a Foreign Ministry press conference on Sunday.
PAYLOAD OF A CHINESE SPY CRAFT LOCATED IN SOUTH CAROLINA WATERS, MOSTLY INTACT: US OFFICIAL
Taiwan says China has flown spy balloons “very frequently” in its airspace in recent years. (AP Photo/Johnson Lai)
“The US Congressional resolution is just about scoring political points and dramatizing the whole thing,” spokeswoman Mao Ning said. “China deplores and strongly opposes it.”
Tensions are rising between the US and China as China holds military exercises in Taiwan this week. (Chad Fish via AP)
almost two dozen chinese military aircraft and ships were detected around Taiwan on Monday morning after the US Navy and Marine Corps conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea over the weekend.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said 18 People’s Liberation Army planes were detected, 11 of which crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial buffer zone between the island and China. Four vessels were also detected around Taiwan.
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The raid came days after the United States conducted “integrated expeditionary strike force” operations in the South China Sea, which included the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
“The mobility and sustainability provided by amphibious platforms gives the Navy and marines team an asymmetric advantage in a maritime environment,” the 7th Fleet said in a statement. “This seamless naval integration established a powerful presence in the region, which supports peace and stability.”
An osprey flies past the flight deck of the USS Nimitz as it conducts exercises in the South China Sea on February 11. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin McTaggart)
An osprey prepares to land on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz while conducting exercises in the South China Sea on February 11. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin McTaggart)
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The United States has shot down three other unidentified “objects” over the United States and Canada since it shot down China’s balloon earlier this month. However, only the first balloon is known to be linked to China.
Fox News’ Paul Best contributed to this report.
