TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked six Chinese naval vessels and five official ships, plus two military aircraft between 6 a.m. on Friday and the same time Saturday.
In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems. Both of the People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s eastern air defense identification zone, according to the ministry.
So far this month, the ministry has tracked Chinese ships 37 times and aircraft three 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 the country.
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.”
