By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) – Taiwan said on Tuesday that it had detected a Chinese balloon crossing the “median line” in the major waterway that separates mainland China from the island nation.
“One PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) balloon was detected yesterday (Monday) after crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait at the location 66 nautical miles northwest of Keelung and altitude of approximately 26,000 feet,” said Taiwan’s Defense Ministry in a statement.
It said the balloon “headed east and disappeared at 00:27 today (1627GMT, Monday).”
Taiwan said several Chinese balloons have been detected since early this month.
However, the Defense Ministry’s analysis of the balloons shows that they are meant for weather purposes.
Meanwhile, the ministry said it detected eight Chinese military aircraft around the island nation on Tuesday.
Three of the aircraft entered the air defense identification zone, it added.
China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province, does not recognize the median line or the air defense zone. Taipei, however, has insisted on its independence since 1949.