TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked two Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and two official ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday.
The two People’s Liberation Army did not cross the Taiwan Strait median line, according to the MND. In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity.
The PLA also moved army, naval, air force, and rocket force units around Taiwan on Monday for its “Justice Mission 2025” drills, Reuters reported. The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command announced that exercises, including live-fire drills, will take place on Tuesday in five zones surrounding Taiwan, with restrictions on sea and air space in effect for 10 hours from 8:30 a.m.
So far this month, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 276 times and ships 214 times. 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.”
