TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked four Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday.

The ministry said two of the four People's Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered Taiwan’s northern air defense identification zone. The aircraft consisted of fighter jets and drones. 

The ministry monitored the situation, sent aircraft and naval vessels, and deployed land-based air defense missile systems. 

So far this month, the MND has tracked Chinese military aircraft 174 times and ships 82 times. Since September 2020, Beijing has increased its use of "gray zone tactics" by operating military aircraft and 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."