Chinese J-11 jets. (Weibo photo)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 43 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Wednesday (Sept. 25) and 6 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 26).
Of the 43 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 34 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the southwestern and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. These included fighter jets, drones, and helicopters.
Taiwan sent combat patrol aircraft and naval vessels and deployed land-based air defense missile systems to monitor the PLA activity.
So far this month, the MND has tracked 366 Chinese military aircraft and 200 ships. 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." Taiwan News
