The government of Taiwan has observed several alleged Chinese spy balloons in Taiwan’s skies 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 last year, authorities reported an incident of this type, in which several Chinese balloons allegedly flew over the north of the island, autonomous since 1949 but which Beijing considers its province.
The United Kingdom will review the country’s air security following the recent discovery of alleged spy balloons flying over the Americas, The Telegraph newspaper has reported.
UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced that the UK, US and other partners would work together to review safety and analyze the danger posed by balloons.
The review will serve to decide whether it is necessary to make changes to the surveillance of British airspace, the official told the paper.
“The UK and its allies will be reviewing what these airspace intrusions mean for our security. This development is yet another sign of how the global threat landscape is changing for the worse.”emphasizes Wallace.
Members of the British Parliament have already warned that the balloons may have flown over British territory, a possibility the Ministry of Defense has refused to rule out.
Last week, the United States shot down a balloon flying over US airspace.
On Wednesday, US intelligence officials linked the balloon to an alleged Chinese military surveillance program, having already warned allies about Chinese maneuvers.
Washington warned that, in addition to the United States, China had used balloons over military assets in countries and areas of emerging strategic importance to the Asian giant, including Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines, according to The Washington Post, which said US officials .
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard on Monday accused their Chinese counterparts of aiming a “military laser” at a ship in the disputed South China Sea, temporarily blinding several crew members.
The incident occurred on Feb. 6, about 12 miles from Second Thomas Atoll, in the Spratly Islands, where Philippine soldiers are stationed, he said in a statement.
The Chinese ship also performed “dangerous maneuvers” and approached to within 140 meters of the Philippine patrol, he said.
The Philippine patrol boat was on a “rotation and resupply mission” to soldiers on a naval ship stranded on the sandbar to assert Manila’s territorial claims.
“The deliberate blockade” of Philippine vessels supplying soldiers with food and supplies “is a blatant disregard and clear violation of Manila’s sovereign rights in this part of the western Philippine Sea,” the Philippine Coast Guard said, referring to the waters west of the country.
Supplying the atoll is normally done by private vessels, escorted by the Coast Guard.
This is the latest maritime incident between Beijing and Manila, sparking disagreement over the sea, a strategic area rich in energy and fish resources.
Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire area, as well as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. China is ignoring 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 U.S. troops access to four additional bases in the Philippines as the two allies seek to limit the military’s presence. Beijing in the region.
Last December, Manila announced the future establishment of direct communications between the Philippine and Chinese foreign ministries to prevent “computation and communication errors” in the South China Sea.
Source: DN
