Taiwan detects 9 Chinese military aircraft, 8 naval vessels

According to Taiwan News, the Ministry of National Defence (MND) of Taiwan tracked nine Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 am on Friday (local time) and 6 am on Saturday (local time).

Among the nine People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, four crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The MND reported that it closely monitored the situation and responded by deploying suitable resources and forces.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence posted on X, stating, “Nine PLA aircraft and eight PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. today. Four of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and employed appropriate forces to respond.”

Since September 2020, China has increased its use of ‘grey zone tactics’ by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan, according to Taiwan News.

Grey 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.

“9 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. today. 4 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s SW ADIZ.