TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked two Chinese military aircraft, six naval vessels, and one official ship around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday and the same time Saturday. 

China had previously paused air incursions for seven days. Two of the sorties reportedly entered Taiwan’s southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ. In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor People’s Liberation Army activity.

So far this month, Taiwan has tracked two Chinese military aircraft and 40 Chinese 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 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.”