TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked 16 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels between 6 a.m. on Friday and the same time Saturday. 

Thirteen out of 16 sorties reportedly crossed the median line of the strait 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 186 times and ships 174 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.”