Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has said six Chinese spy balloons flew into Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Sunday (January 21, 2024).

On Monday (Jan. 22), the MND said six Chinese balloons were detected at 5:56 a.m., 8:08 a.m., 9:54 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 1:50 p.m., and 7:33 p.m. on Sunday after crossing the median line. The first, second, third, fifth, and sixth were detected 120 km (65 NM), 105 km (57 NM), 133 (72 NM), 120 (65 NM), and 170 (92 NM) west of Keelung, while the fourth was spotted 303 km (164 NM) west of Pingtung, Taiwan News reported.

Their altitudes were 7,000 m (23,000 ft), 6,000 m (20,000 ft), 6,000 m (20,000 ft), 4,572 m (15,000 ft), 6,000 m (20,000 ft), and 8,000 (27,000 ft), respectively. The balloons flew in an easterly direction, sequentially disappearing at 6:50 a.m., 8:24 a.m., 10:10 a.m., 3:45 p.m., 3:48 p.m., and 10:08 p.m. on Sunday, the news portal reported.

According to reports, five of the balloons flew off the north coast of Taiwan while the remaining one flew over southern Taiwan.

Defence analyst Ben Lewis said the region witnessed highest single-day sighting of balloons in a day.

Defence analyst Ben Lewis posted on X: "MND report states that 4x PLA aircraft and 4x PLAN vessels were tracked around Taiwan today. None of the aircraft entered the de facto ADIZ."

He said: "Additionally, 6x PRC balloons were tracked, the highest single-day total of balloons on record. 1x balloon flew over southern Taiwan."

What is the basis of China’s claim over Taiwan?

The basis of China’s claim over Taiwan dates back to 1945 when Japan lost its control over the island in 1945,post-World War Two.

The 1949 Chinese civil war led to communists taking control and Chiang Kai-shek the one who lost fled to Taiwan. He ruled it for many decades. This is where China’s claim to Taiwan emanates. The very fact that Chiang Kai-shek came to Taiwan and was not indigenous to the place is Taiwan’s argument against the claim.