TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked two Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday (May 22) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (May 23).

In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, naval ships, and used land-based missiles to monitor PLA activity, according to the MND. No People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) or crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during that time.

So far this month, Beijing has sent 229 military aircraft and 88 naval vessels around Taiwan. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan.

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 resorting to direct and sizable use of force.”