Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese military aircraft, 8 naval ships around nation

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked nine Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday (June 18) and 6 a.m. on Monday (June 19).

Of the nine People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, two Harbin Z-9 anti-submarine warfare helicopters were monitored in the southeast corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during that time.

In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, naval ships, and used land-based missiles to monitor PLA activity.

So far this month, Beijing has sent 192 military aircraft and 91 naval ships around Taiwan. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan.

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.” (Taiwan News)