TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked eight Chinese naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday (Sept. 22) and 6 a.m. on Monday. 

In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activity, according to the MND. No PLA aircraft were tracked in the nation’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

So far this month, Taiwan has tracked 321 Chinese military aircraft and 180 ships. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels 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 resort to direct and sizable use of force.”