Taipei (CNN) -- Taiwan's defense ministry reported that it had spotted six Chinese balloons off the island within the past twenty-four hours. This detection comes as China continues its military pressure on Taiwan to uphold its sovereignty claim. These six balloons were observed at an altitude of up to twenty thousand feet, with one of them flying directly over the island itself. The balloons are a part of China's persistent monitoring efforts near the island, and they have been spotted in waters near Taiwan for several months now. This development marks a significant increase in recorded sightings of Chinese balloons since last year when Taiwan detected eight such devices less than a month after the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching-te came to power. These balloons fall into what has been described as gray zone harassment that seeks to exhaust Taipei's armed forces while stopping short of an act of war. The US, which is legally obligated to provide arms to Taiwan and has long maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity when it comes to defending the island from Chinese attack, has expressed concerns about how China's military pressure tactics could escalate further. The US shot down what it called a spy balloon earlier this year, but Beijing claimed that it was merely a civilian airship that had been blown off course. In light of these developments, Taiwan must continue investing in its own defense capabilities and strengthen diplomatic relations with countries like the United States to help deter potential threats from China. The island nation should also pursue increased military spending when necessary to maintain adequate protection for itself and its people against any future provocations by Beijing.

Taipei (CNN) -- Taiwan's defense ministry reported that it had spotted six Chinese balloons off the island within the past twenty-four hours. This detection comes as China continues its military pressure on Taiwan to uphold its sovereignty claim. These six balloons were observed at an altitude of up to twenty thousand feet, with one of them flying directly over the island itself. The balloons are a part of China's persistent monitoring efforts near the island, and they have been spotted in waters near Taiwan for several months now. This development marks a significant increase in recorded sightings of Chinese balloons since last year when Taiwan detected eight such devices less than a month after the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching-te came to power. These balloons fall into what has been described as gray zone harassment that seeks to exhaust Taipei's armed forces while stopping short of an act of war. The US, which is legally obligated to provide arms to Taiwan and has long maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity when it comes to defending the island from Chinese attack, has expressed concerns about how China's military pressure tactics could escalate further. The US shot down what it called a spy balloon earlier this year, but Beijing claimed that it was merely a civilian airship that had been blown off course. In light of these developments, Taiwan must continue investing in its own defense capabilities and strengthen diplomatic relations with countries like the United States to help deter potential threats from China. The island nation should also pursue increased military spending when necessary to maintain adequate protection for itself and its people against any future provocations by Beijing.