TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The defense ministry detected five Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday and the same time Thursday.
Three out of five sorties reportedly crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern air defense identification zone, or ADIZ. In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor Chinese activity.
So far this month, the defense ministry has tracked Chinese military aircraft seven times and ships 73 times. Since September 2020, Beijing has increased its use of "gray zone tactics" by operating military aircraft and naval ships 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.”
