Strange flying object near Taiwan raises new questions about Chinese activities

Taiwanʼs defense officials spotted an odd sight this sunday - a high-flying balloon hovering about 60 nautical miles away from the islands northern coast. The un-identified object stayed in the area for roughly two hours floating at 33000 ft (which is way up in commercial planes territory)

The timing of this air-visitor is raising eye-brows as Taiwan prepares for its january elections; similar balloon activities have been noticed more often lately. The islandʼs military experts say these arent just random events - its part of a bigger pattern of non-traditional pressure tactics

Back in spring similar balloon was seen in the area and before that the whole world watched as US forces dealt with what they called a spy-balloon (even though Beijing said it was just weather equipment that went off-course). The defense ministry keeps track of these things: this one showed up at 6:21 pm near Keelung port and disappeared around 8 pm

Taiwanʼs government has its own view on these floating visitors - they see them as part of what military folks call grey-zone tactics: actions that push boundaries without starting a real fight. While Chinese officials keep saying these are just weather tools Taipei isnt buying that explanation

The island nation - which runs its own show despite Chinaʼs claims to own it - says only local people should decide Taiwanʼs future. Meanwhile Beijing hasnt said anything about this latest balloon showing up in the neighborhood