Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has reported heightened Chinese military activity near its borders. According to the MND, from 6 am (local time) on Friday to 6 am (local time) on Saturday, 30 Chinese military aircraft and nine naval vessels operated near Taiwan's territory.

Military Aircraft and Naval Vessels
Of these, 23 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft entered Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). The closest approach was recorded at 72 kilometers from Eluanbi in the south and 77 kilometers from Keelung in the north, as per Taiwan News.

Taiwan's Response
In response, Taiwan deployed combat patrol aircraft, naval vessels, and land-based air defence missile systems to monitor and respond to Beijing's activities, as reported by Taiwan News.

Official Statement
In a social media post on X, Taiwan's MND confirmed, "30 PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 23 aircraft entered Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."

Recent Activity and Context
Throughout July, Taiwan's MND has tracked Chinese military aircraft 131 times and naval vessels 35 times. Since September 2020, China has escalated its "gray zone tactics," involving increased military aircraft and naval ship presence near Taiwan.

Gray Zone Tactics
According to CSIS, gray zone tactics aim to achieve security objectives without resorting to direct and significant force. Taiwan News elaborates that China's recent actions form part of ongoing provocations, including air and naval incursions into Taiwan's ADIZ and military exercises near the island.

Political Context
Taiwan has operated independently from China since 1949. However, China maintains its claim over Taiwan as part of its territory, advocating for reunification, even if it means using force.

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