In the midst of escalating tensions between Taiwan and China, Taiwan's defense ministry sent an air raid alert to residents' mobile phones across the island. The alert was in response to China's launch of a satellite over Taiwanese airspace, an action that further strained relations between Taipei and Beijing.

The air raid alert came shortly after China announced the successful launch of an Einstein Probe satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwestern Sichuan province. The satellite, launched using the Long March-2C carrier rocket, entered its designated orbit, but China did not disclose any details regarding its flight plan.

The timing of the alert is crucial, as Taiwan is set to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in just a few days. China has described the upcoming elections as a choice between war and peace, adding to the already tense atmosphere surrounding the political event.

China perceives Taiwan, located about 100 miles off its east coast, as a renegade province that must come under its control. The satellite recently launched by China aims to observe transient phenomena in the universe, revealing lesser-known aspects of the cosmos.

During a press conference, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu addressed the satellite launch and potential Chinese military provocations. Wu mentioned that a satellite carried by a rocket had flown over the southern part of Taiwan, but he did not provide any additional information.

In the face of Beijing's near-complete refusal to communicate with Taiwan's leadership over the past eight years, the leading presidential candidate, William Lai, expressed hope for a reopening of dialogue with China. Lai emphasized, however, that Taiwan would continue its current policy of maintaining de-facto independence while enhancing defense deterrence and economic security.

The upcoming elections have been shadowed by China's increasing pressure on Taiwan, including excluding it from major international gatherings and wooing away its diplomatic allies. China has even made financial inducements to politicians across the spectrum to influence policies and gain greater access to Taiwan's economy.

The People's Liberation Army has been conducting daily missions around Taiwan, with a growing number of balloons crossing over from China, similar to an incident last year involving a Chinese balloon that flew over Canada and the U.S. Taiwan's Defense Ministry has responded to these incursions by scrambling jets, dispatching ships, and activating coastal missile systems.

Taiwan has been bolstering its defenses through new weapons purchases from the U.S. and an expansion of national service for men. These defense-related matters have become contentious issues in the upcoming elections, with accusations from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that the opposition Kuomintang Party (KMT) has been obstructing new defense spending, potentially in exchange for a gradual handover of control to Beijing.

As tensions continue to mount between Taiwan and China, the situation remains unpredictable. The outcomes of the upcoming elections will shape the future trajectory of cross-strait relations and have significant implications on regional stability.