63jili Taiwan holds air, sea drills as China keeps up pressure

TAIPEI63jili, Taiwan — Taiwan's military deployed aircraft, ships and air defense missile systems in a drill on Thursday, as its defense ministry reported the detection of two Chinese balloons near the island.

China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since 1949, but Beijing considers it part of its territory and has refused to renounce the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Beijing regularly deploys fighter jets, drones and warships around Taiwan, and occasionally balloons, as it keeps up military pressure.

The early morning exercise was aimed at testing "the response and engagement procedures of air defense units", Taiwan's Air Force Command said in a statement.

"Various types of aircraft, ships, and air defense missile systems were deployed from 5:00 am to 7:00 am," the statement said, without providing details.

The last time the Air Force Command held such drills was in June, a month after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te took office.

Taiwan's defense ministry reported Thursday it had detected two Chinese balloons over waters north of the island.

The balloons were spotted on Wednesday afternoon in two locations about 111 kilometres (69 miles) northwest and 163 kilometres north of Keelung City.

That follows the sighting of a Chinese balloon on Sunday over the same waters.

Along with the two balloons, 13 Chinese military aircraft and seven navy vessels were spotted around Taiwan in the 24 hours to 6:00 am on Thursday, the ministry said.

Taiwan lives under the constant threat of a Chinese invasion and has ramped up defense spending in recent years to strengthen its military capabilities.

The island has a home-grown defense industry but also relies heavily on arms sales from Washington, which is Taiwan's most important partner and biggest provider of weapons and ammunition.

Taiwan has described the balloons as a form of "grey zone" harassment -- a tactic that falls short of an act of war.63jili

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