Taiwan has identified 16 Chinese military planes and 8 Chinese navy ships near the country in the last 24 hours, up until Saturday at 6 a.m. local time.
The Ministry of National Defence (MND) of Taiwan stated that out of the 16 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 12 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ).
Taiwan responded by monitoring PLA activity with the deployment of aircraft, naval ships, and air defence missile systems. According to a Taiwan News article, Taiwan has counted 101 Chinese military aircraft and 79 Chinese navy vessels so far in April.
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Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense wrote on X, saying, “16 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. today. 12 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s SW ADIZ. ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and employed appropriate forces to respond.”
The increased number of military aircraft and naval vessels in the Taiwan region since September 2020 is evidence that China has been using gray zone tactics more frequently.
“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.” Taiwan News defined it as gray zone tactics. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) of Taiwan declared on April 12 that it had seen eight navy vessels and fourteen military aircraft from China circling Taiwan between Friday and Thursday mornings at six a.m.
Four of the 14 PLA planes crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, while five of them reached the southwest region of the nation’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). Taiwan responded by monitoring PLA activity with planes, naval ships, and air defense missile systems.
