TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked two Chinese military aircraft, five naval vessels, and five official ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday and 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
The two People’s Liberation Army helicopters entered the country’s northern and eastern 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, Taiwan tracked Chinese military aircraft 173 times and ships 397 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.”
