TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 12 Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday (Jan. 4) and 6 a.m. on Thursday (Jan. 5).
Of the 12 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, four were tracked in the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), including two Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, one Shaanxi Y-8 electronic warfare plane, and one BZK-007 reconnaissance drone, according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during this time.
In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, naval ships, and used land-based missiles to monitor the PLA aircraft and vessels.
So far this month, Beijing has sent 55 military aircraft and 17 naval ships around Taiwan. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by routinely sending aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ.
Gray zone tactics are defined as “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.”
Flight paths of four out of 12 PLA aircraft. (MND image)