Taiwan: 8 Chinese Fighter Jets Cross the Median Line in Taiwan Strait

The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense reported on Sunday that it had detected eight Chinese fighter jets crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait over the past 24 hours, adding that it also spotted one balloon. Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory, has repeatedly complained about Chinese military activity around it in the past four years. China has intensified its operations around Taiwan with the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections on the island set for January 13. The median line was once regarded as an unofficial barrier between the two sides, but Chinese aircraft are now regularly flying over it. The Ministry of Defense stated that Taiwan has deployed forces to monitor the situation. The ministry also announced that it had detected a Chinese balloon in the strait, the latest in a series of balloons that Taiwan claims are likely monitoring the weather, pushed by prevailing winds at this time of year. It added that the balloon, which was tracked after crossing the median line on Saturday, headed east and then disappeared after an hour.