1、15 JUNE 2025APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE.DISTRIBUTION IS UNLIMITED.(U)Chinas Escalating Gray Zone Campaign(U)Figure 1:ADIZs off Chinas East Coast(Source:TRADOC G-2)(U)EXECUTIVE SUMMARY(U)China escalated its gray zone activities in the East and South China Seas in 2024,primarily tar-geting Taiwan but
2、also increasing pressure on Japan,Vietnam,and the Philippines.This escalation aims to undermine Taiwans legitimacy,wear down its defenses,gather intelligence,and gradually shift the strategic landscape in Chinas favor.Taiwan remains the primary target of Chinas gray zone campaign,enduring the highes
3、t number of distinct gray zone tactics,including a dramatic increase in Peoples Liberation Army(PLA)aircraft incursions into Taiwans air defense identification zone(ADIZ)and the normalization of crossing the median line.Against Japan,China set records for incur-sions near the Senkaku Islands,includi
4、ng breaches of Japanese territorial waters.China continued its aggressive tactics against Vietnamese vessels in the South China Sea,using artificial islands and its maritime militia.While maintaining a pervasive presence in the South China Sea,China has been particularly aggressive against the Phili
