Taiwan’s Defense Ministry monitors 9 Chinese military aircraft and 5 naval vessels

According to Taiwan News, the Ministry of National Defence (MND) of Taiwan monitored nine Chinese military aircraft and five naval ships in the vicinity of Taiwan from 6 am on Sunday, March 17, until the same time on Monday, March 18.

The Ministry of National Defence reported that among the nine aircraft belonging to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), one Chinese drone crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and penetrated the southwest region of the country’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

Additionally, Taiwan News reported that two other aircraft also entered the southwest sector of the ADIZ.

In response, Taiwan dispatched aircraft and naval ships while deploying air defense missile systems to monitor the PLA’s movements.

According to reports, this month, Taiwan has monitored Chinese military aircraft 185 times and naval vessels 113 times.

According to Taiwan News, on March 16, the MND tracked 10 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels encircling Taiwan from 6 am on Friday, March 15, to the same time on Saturday, March 16.

As per the MND’s report, among the 10 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, six ventured into the southwest and eastern sectors of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Since September 2020, China has escalated its utilization of gray zone tactics by notably ramping up the presence of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan.

The 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,” according to Taiwan News.