TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked 22 Chinese military aircraft around Taiwan on Thursday morning as part of the PLA's first combat patrol of the year. 

The ministry said that as of 8:50 a.m., 18 of the 22 PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone. These included Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, Shaanxi KJ-500 early warning and control aircraft, and drones, among other aircraft.

The ministry said the Chinese aircraft carried out “joint combat readiness patrols” with PLA naval vessels, marking the first such drills of the new year. The ministry monitored the situation, sent aircraft and naval vessels, and deployed land-based air defense missile systems in response. 

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."