Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported on Tuesday that it had tracked 13 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels operating near Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday and 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
Of the 13 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, eight crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, entering Taiwan’s northern, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zones. In response to the heightened activity, Taiwan deployed its aircraft, naval vessels, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor the movements of the PLA.
The MND revealed that this marks the 83rd time this month that Chinese military aircraft have been tracked near Taiwan, with naval vessels being observed 79 times. China’s use of these gray zone tactics, which involves military activities that fall short of direct confrontation, has been on the rise since September 2020. These tactics aim to achieve security objectives without resorting to significant use of force, often resulting in heightened tensions.
The Taiwanese government has continued to bolster its defense capabilities in the face of this ongoing military presence, while maintaining its commitment to monitoring the situation closely.
Stay tuned to The Asia Review for further updates on this story.
