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Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory despite the
strong objections of the government in Taipei, has complained
since December about the balloons, saying they are a threat to
aviation safety and attempt at psychological warfare.
In its daily report on Chinese military activities, Taiwan's
defense ministry said it spotted the first balloon on Friday
morning and the last one early in the evening.
Two crossed the northern part of Taiwan, according to a map
provided by the ministry. The others approached the coast before
vanishing, though one flew over the sea to the north of Taiwan.
China's defense ministry did not answer calls seeking comment on
Saturday at the start of the holiday, the most important
festival in the Chinese-speaking world.
Last month, China's government dismissed repeated complaints by
Taiwan about the balloons, saying they are for meteorological
purposes and should not be hyped up for political reasons.
Chinese warplanes operate daily in the Taiwan Strait and often
cross its median line that previously served as an unofficial
barrier between the two sides. China says it does not recognize
the existence of that line.
Taiwan last month elected Vice President Lai Ching-te as its
next president, a man China describes as a dangerous separatist.
Lai, who takes office in May, has offered talks with China,
which have been rejected. He says only Taiwan's people can
decide their future.
The potential for China to use balloons for spying became a
global issue last February when the United States shot down what
it said was a Chinese surveillance balloon. China said the
balloon was a civilian craft that accidentally drifted astray.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Laurie Chen
in Beijing; Editing by William Mallard)
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