TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 12 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels between 6 a.m. on Friday (June 14) and the same time Saturday (June 15).

Of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, seven entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the PLA activity. 

So far this month, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 152 times and naval or coast guard vessels 125 times. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships 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.”