Taiwanese Defence Ministry Detects Chinese Balloon inside Island

Taiwan's Defence Ministry says a Chinese military surveillance balloon was spotted in the Taiwan Strait, as well as a large-scale dispatch of military aircraft and ships.

The Ministry said the balloon passed southwest of the northern port city of Keelung on Thursday night, then continued east before disappearing, possibly into the Pacific Ocean.

Taiwan has threatened to shoot down such balloons, but the Ministry did not say what, if any, action was taken. It said the balloon was monitored flying at an altitude of approximately 6,400 metres (21,000 feet).