Taiwan reports 2 Chinese balloons near its territory as China steps up pressure ahead of elections

Two Chinese balloons flew north of Taiwan, increasing pressure on the self-ruled territory ahead of the January presidential election. The balloons crossed the sensitive Taiwan Strait and were detected northwest of Keelung. This is the second time this month Taiwan reported a Chinese balloon. China's potential for using weather balloons to spy on other governments came into focus earlier this year when the United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean.