The Taiwanese government has observed several suspected Chinese spy balloons in Taiwanese airspace in recent years, the Financial Times reports.
“They come very often, the last one just a few weeks ago,” said a Taiwanese official.
The Financial Times quoted another source as saying that these devices are registered, on average, once a month.
In February of last year, the authorities reported an incident of this type, in which several Chinese balloons would have flown over the north of the island, autonomous since 1949, but which Beijing considers its province.
Last week, the United States shot down a balloon that was flying over American airspace.
On Wednesday, the US secret services linked the balloon to an alleged Chinese military surveillance program, and already warned allies about Chinese manoeuvres.
Washington warned that, in addition to the United States, China had used balloons over military assets in countries and areas of emerging strategic interest to the Asian giant, including Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines, The Washington Post reported, citing US officials. .
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard has accused its Chinese counterparts of directing a “military-style laser” at a ship in the disputed South China Sea, temporarily blinding several crew members.
The incident took place on February 6, about 20 kilometers from Second Thomas Atoll in the Spratly Islands, where Philippine soldiers are stationed, it said in a statement.
The Chinese ship also carried out “dangerous maneuvers”, coming within 140 meters of the Philippine patrol, it said.
The Philippine patrol boat was on a “rotation and resupply mission” to soldiers on a navy ship, stranded on the sandbank to assert Manila’s territorial claims.
“The deliberate blockade” of Philippine ships supplying soldiers with food and supplies “is a flagrant disregard for and a clear violation of Manila’s sovereign rights in this part of the western Philippine Sea,” the Philippine Coast Guard said, referring to to the waters west of the country.
Resupply on the atoll is normally carried out by private vessels, escorted by the coast guard.
This is the latest maritime incident between Beijing and Manila, at odds over the sea, a strategic area with rich energy and fishing resources.
Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire area, but also the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. China has ignored an international court ruling that China’s claims have no legal basis.
Earlier this month, Washington and Manila agreed to resume joint patrols in the South China Sea and announced a deal to allow US troops access to four additional bases in the Philippines as the two allies seek to counter Beijing’s military presence in the region.
Last December, Manila announced the future establishment of direct communication between the Philippine and Chinese foreign ministries to prevent “miscalculation and communication” in the South China Sea.
Source: TSF
