TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of Defense tracked 12 Chinese military aircraft and 4 naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Tuesday (June 13) and 6 a.m. Wednesday (June 14).
According to the Ministry of National Defense, four of the 12 PLA aircraft entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), including three KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft and a Shaanxi Yun-8 electronic warfare aircraft. During this period, no PLA aircraft crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait.
In response, Taiwan dispatched aircraft, naval vessels and used land-based missiles to monitor PLA activities.
So far in June, Beijing has sent 157 military aircraft and 61 naval vessels to circle Taiwan. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by gradually increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating around Taiwan.
Gray zone tactics are defined as “an effort or set of efforts that go beyond steady-state deterrence and assurances to attempt to achieve one’s own security objectives without resorting to the direct and massive use of force.”
Flight paths of 4 of 12 PLA aircraft. (MND image)
