Some analysts see the objects as a calculatedly ambiguous reminder to voters that Beijing is watching.

You can't make this up lmao

The Taiwanese reports also noted some of the balloons’ proximity to the island’s military bases. Of the four reported on Tuesday, three were first detected 120 to 184 miles from the Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in the city of Taichung. Taiwan’s defense ministry declined to specify how close to the base they may have flown.

"Yeah it totally came near our airbase. How close? We won't say"

Taiwan has, so far at least, experienced none of the alarm that gripped many Americans last year when a hulking Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon floated across the United States.

michael-laugh

This whole thing is a comedic goldmine, to say nothing of the headline