TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked 30 Chinese military aircraft, 8 naval vessels, and one official ship around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday.

The ministry said 20 of the 30 People's Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, eastern, and southwestern air defense identification zone, or ADIZ.

One fighter jet was detected north of the ADIZ, 14 fighters and drones entered the central ADIZ, five fighters were detected in the southwest ADIZ, and one drone flew completely around Taiwan. 

The ministry monitored the situation, sent aircraft and naval vessels, and deployed land-based air defense missile systems in response. 

So far this month, the MND has tracked Chinese military aircraft 407 times and ships 227 times. Since September 2020, Beijing has increased its use of "gray zone tactics" by operating military aircraft and naval ships around Taiwan.  

According to CSIS, gray zone tactics are “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resorting to direct and sizable use of force."