TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 27 Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and five official ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday (Oct. 9) and 6 a.m. on Thursday.

Of the 27 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 15 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s northern, central, and southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.

In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity. 

So far this month China has sent 95 military aircraft and 45 ships around Taiwan. 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.”