TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked 12 Chinese military aircraft, five naval vessels, and one official ship between 6 a.m. on Saturday and the same time Sunday. 

The ministry reported nine of the 12 sorties 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.

So far this month, the ministry has tracked Chinese military aircraft 87 times and ships 73 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.”