TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 15 Chinese military aircraft and three naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Thursday (March 16) and 6 a.m. on Friday (March 17).

Of the 15 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, five entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), including two Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, two Guizhou WZ-7 reconnaissance drones, and one Shaanxi Y-8 reconnaissance plane, 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 240 military aircraft and 63 naval vessels 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 five out of 15 PLA aircraft. (MND image)