2023/02/24
Air Force Command issues a press release about reports that "an unknown balloon was found in northern airspace"
In response to media reports that "an unknown balloon was found in northern space,
and Mirage fighters had urgently took off to intercept the balloon", Air Force
Command stated today (24 th ) that an air balloon was detected this afternoon in
northern airspace, and Command immediately activated jet-fighters to investigate
the situation. It was later preliminarily determined that the balloon was a device for
meteorological research. Jet-fighters continued to monitor the situation until the
target disappeared. Since the balloon might have affected flight safety, Command
had also notified civil aviation control units to alert aircraft in the air to the balloon.
Air Force Command emphasizes that it will make use of joint intelligence and
monitoring resources to stay abreast of the conditions of the airspace around the
Taiwan Strait to handle incidences appropriately. Further, the Air Force shall
continue to maintain close vigilance to ensure our air defense.