TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported on Monday (Dec. 18) that it had detected six instances of People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, and two Chinese naval vessels near the Taiwan Strait between 6 a.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday.
In response to the activities, the defense ministry stated that the island's military deployed aircraft, ships, and shore-based missile systems for close monitoring and appropriate response.
Additionally, the MND disclosed that two suspected Chinese weather balloons were spotted crossing the northern end of the Taiwan Strait median line a day prior at 9:03 a.m. and 2:43 p.m.
The balloons were approximately 110 nautical miles northwest of Keelung, flying below an altitude of about 27,000 feet, and continued to drift eastward.
They were last seen at 9:36 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. respectively on Sunday, the defense ministry stated.
This development comes in the midst of increased activities by the Chinese military around Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province to be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.