TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked 11 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels, and one official ship around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Tuesday and 6 a.m. on Wednesday. 

The 11 People’s Liberation Army aircraft entered the country’s southwest air defense identification zone, according to the MND. 

In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity. 

Last month, the defense ministry tracked Chinese military aircraft 173 times and ships 251 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.”