Ajit Karn
Taipei: Between 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 2, and 6:00 a.m. on Monday, April 3, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry detected five Chinese military aircraft and four naval ships circling Taiwan. (April 3).
Today at 6 a.m. (UTC+8), Taiwan’s Defense Ministry tweeted, “Five PLA aircraft and four PLAN vessels were detected around Taiwan. The Armed Forces of the Republic of China have monitored the situation and dispatched CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities.”
“There is no indication of PLA aircraft crossing the middle line of the Taiwan Strait or entering Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ during the time period,” the report added.
Taiwan also monitored 10 Chinese military aircraft and three naval ships between Saturday and Sunday, according to Taiwan News.
According to the MND, four KA-28 anti-submarine warfare helicopters from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) were observed in the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ). During this time, no PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line.
In retaliation, Taiwan dispatched naval vessels and employed land-based missiles to monitor PLA aircraft and vessels.
Beijing has dispatched 28 military aircraft and seven naval vessels to Taiwan so far in April. China has increased its use of grey zone tactics by routinely dispatching aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ since September 2020.
Focus Taiwan defines grey zone tactics as “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without the use of direct and substantial force.”
Taiwan tracked nine Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between Monday, March 27 and Tuesday, March 28, according to Taiwan News.
According to the MND, three of the nine People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft were detected in Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ). One CH-4 reconnaissance drone crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait in the ADIZ’s northeast sector, while two Shenyang J-11 fighter aircraft entered the identification zone’s southwest corner.
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Beijing has dispatched 325 military aircraft and 101 naval vessels to Taiwan so far in March. Taiwan News reports that since September 2020, China has increased its use of grey zone tactics by routinely dispatching aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ.
