TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The defense ministry reported 25 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday (Nov. 22) and the same time Saturday.

Thirteen of the aircraft crossed over the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the country’s southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships, and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor Chinese activity.

So far this month, Taiwan has tracked 294 Chinese military aircraft and 130 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 “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.”