UPDATED: The Balloon Goes Up?
Record Chinese Balloon Operation
Cambridge Dictionary: “If the balloon goes up, a situation suddenly becomes very serious or unpleasant. 形勢變嚴峻；情況變糟
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7 March 2025 (Friday); Updated 8 March.
The Balloon Goes Up?
Record Chinese Balloon Operation
By Wendell Minnick (Whiskey Mike) 顏文德
TAIPEI - This is the largest mass weather balloon operation by China directly over Taiwan known publicly.
Data, released by the Ministry of National Defense (MND), demonstrates that on 6 and 7 March balloons flew over an area of northern Taiwan believed to serve as the future landing grounds of a Chinese military invasion.
These include the Port of Taipei, Tamshui River Delta, Zhuwei Fishing Harbor, Yong’an Fishing Harbor, Taoyuan International Airport, are all key capture targets for seizing Taipei. The Tamshui River runs directly into Taipei.
Over the past few years, Taiwan has responded by beefing up the area. First by moving the 66th Marine Regiment (and unconfirmed reports that elements of the Marine Amphibious Reconnaissance Patrol (ARP) special operations) to the area to augment the Army’s infantry and armor units. Taiwan’s Army Aviation and Special Forces Command (ASFC) is also located in the area and elements of the Airborne can be moved quickly to the area during a crisis.
