Two military aircraft and four Chinese naval vessels have been monitored by Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense. Taiwan News reports that the naval vessels and planes were monitored throughout the country from 6 a.m. on Sunday, December 24, to 6 a.m. on Monday, December 25. In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and navy ships, as well as air defense missile systems, to monitor the activities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), according to MND. No PLA aircraft arrived at the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) or crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during that time.
China has intensified its use of grey zone tactics since September 2020 by gradually increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships patrolling around Taiwan, according to Taiwan News.
Notably, 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.
Beijing has sent 222 military planes and 137 navy ships around Taiwan so far this month.