The United States shooting down of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon has spurred debates about national security in Taiwan. The Defense Ministry recently said no dangerous balloons have been detected in Taiwan's airspace. However, recent developments near Taiwan's outlying Matsu Islands have sparked conversations once again.
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Discussions on national security are reignited after debris of a suspected Chinese balloon was spotted near the outlying Matsu Islands on Thursday. However, opposition party KMT legislator Chen Yu-chen (陳玉珍) says the severed data cables that damaged broadband service for outlying islands pose a more serious national security threat.
On Thursday, the National Communication Commissions said two undersea data cables were severed by passing vessels earlier this month. Chunghwa Telecom says the cables were likely damaged by Chinese freighters operating around the islands.
Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) says measures will be implemented to strengthen the cables and communications between Matsu islands and Taiwan's main island are currently stable. Chiu says he will continue to investigate the national security threats before drawing a conclusion.
All eyes are on the defense ministry for some clarity on the severity of these potential threats.