TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked 22 Chinese military aircraft, six naval vessels, and one official ship between 6 a.m. on Wednesday and the same time Thursday. 

The ministry reported 18 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zone, or ADIZ. In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems.

So far this month, the ministry has tracked Chinese military aircraft 55 times and ships 51 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.”