TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked 10 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday (Oct. 18) and the same time Saturday (Oct. 19). 

None of the Chinese aircraft were mentioned by the defense ministry as having crossed over into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

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

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.”