Image Credit: Taiwan News
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) of Taiwan reported that between 6 a.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday, it tracked 27 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels operating around Taiwan. This rise in activity is part of China’s ongoing strategy of gray zone tactics, which aim to achieve strategic objectives without direct and substantial use of force.
According to the MND, out of the 27 aircraft from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), 17 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait into the nation’s southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ). This maneuver is perceived as an aggressive show of China’s military presence. In response, Taiwan deployed its aircraft and naval vessels and activated coastal-based missile systems to monitor the PLA’s movements closely.
This month alone, Taiwan has recorded 155 instances of PLA aircraft entering its ADIZ and 70 sightings of Chinese naval vessels. Since September 2020, there has been a marked increase in such operations by China, reflecting its strategy to employ gray zone tactics. These tactics involve actions designed to advance security goals through persistent, incremental pressure rather than direct conflict.
The term “gray zone tactics” refers to strategies that seek to achieve security objectives through actions that fall short of outright military engagement, aiming instead for gradual pressure and deterrence. This escalation underscores the ongoing tension between Taiwan and China and highlights the complex dynamics at play in the region.
Source: Taiwan News