TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported Thursday (Jan. 25) that four People's Liberation Army Air Force aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line or entered Taiwan's southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) between Wednesday and Thursday morning.
The MND detected a total of 18 PLAAF aircraft and six PLAN vessels around Taiwan within this timeframe. Republic of China Armed Forces monitored these offenses with Combat Air Patrol (CAP) aircraft, navy vessels, and land-based missile systems.
In addition, the ministry noted the activities of three Chinese balloons near Taiwan. The balloons floated at elevations between 13,000 and 24,000 feet. One such balloon was located 72 nautical miles west of Keelung.
The first balloon was detected at 5:57 a.m. Wednesday at a height of 24,000 feet, 72 nautical miles west of Keelung, disappearing by 6:32 a.m. Another was spotted at 3:11 p.m., at a height of 13,000 feet, 124 nautical miles west of Pingtung, disappearing by 3:57 p.m. The third was seen at 3:30 p.m. at a height of 18,000 feet, 132 nautical miles west of Pingtung, disappearing by 4:14 p.m.