TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked 15 Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and four official ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday.

According to the MND, two of the 15 People's Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the southwestern and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ). These included fighter jets, fighter bombers, support aircraft, and a helicopter.

Taiwan sent combat patrol aircraft and naval vessels and deployed land-based air defense missile systems to monitor the PLA activity. 

So far this month, the MND has tracked 300 Chinese military aircraft and 205 ships. Since September 2020, Beijing has increased its use of "gray zone tactics" by operating military aircraft and naval ships around Taiwan.  

According to CSIS, 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 resorting to direct and sizable use of force."