TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 12 Chinese ships and one military aircraft around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday (May 22) and 6 a.m. on Thursday (May 23).
One People’s Liberation Army (PLA) drone flew along the southern portion of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. Of the 12 Chinese ships, eight were PLA Navy vessels and four were Chinese coast guard ships.
In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval vessels and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the Chinese activity.
So far this month, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 248 times and naval/coast guard vessels 137 times. 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.
Meanwhile, Beijing on Thursday announced that it would be carrying out military exercises in the Taiwan Strait; around northern, southern, and eastern Taiwan; and Kinmen and Matsu on Thursday and Friday.
