TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked 25 Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and two official ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday and 6 a.m. on Thursday. 

Sixteen of the 25 People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the country’s northern, central, and southwestern air defense identification zone, according to the MND. 

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

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.”