The three balloons surfaced southwest of Ching-Chuan-Kang, where an air base is located. Chinese balloons were also spotted over Taiwan last month. China has increased military and political pressure on Taiwan in recent years. Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province in need of re-incorporation.
There will be presidential elections in Taiwan on January 13. Current Vice President Lai Ching-te is the favorite. The Chinese consider him a troublemaker and separatist. Chinese President Xi Jinping declared in his New Year’s speech on Sunday that a reunification of China with Taiwan is “inevitable.”