China's Increasing Use of Balloons in Taiwan Strait Raises Tensions

Balloons originating from China were detected in the skies around Taiwan for the second time this month, crossing the center line of the Taiwan Strait before disappearing. China's use of high-altitude balloons for intelligence-gathering purposes has been a subject of study, with similar balloons detected in other countries. The incident earlier this year, where a Chinese balloon crossed the United States before being shot down, led to diplomatic fallout. The recent balloon sightings come amidst increased military activity by China around Taiwan. Taiwan's Defense Ministry has been disclosing the detection of balloons to ensure transparency and avoid accusations of withholding information.