Jinhua IBN: “In the case of the South China Sea, China has a number of options for using its military force against Taiwan,” said Li Heping, a spokesman for China’s Defense Ministry.

Li also said the Taiwan security guarantees are based on mutual trust and cooperation. “Sino-Taiwan relations have no military dimension, but China is firm about defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity and has exercised both diplomatic and military means in safeguarding this value,” he said.

However, Taiwan authorities say an investigation has been initiated to determine whether arms were supplied by the country to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, or whether they had been distributed as gifts to the PRC soldiers.

As of 2016, Taiwan has signed four agreements with the military government of the PRC for security assistance. These agreements cover military hardware and training for both sides and include Taiwan’s military forces in the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands and the Taiwan Straits, as well as a system of cooperative military-defense exercises between both sides, as well as equipment and technology from Japan, South Korea and the United States.

The US has been helping make these arrangements for several years with Taiwan. For example, it provides equipment and training to Taiwan’s defense forces, and provides military technology.

In January, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis visited Taiwan, the first time a US Defense Secretary was able to visit the island since the administration of George W. Bush.

On April 7, the Republic of China Air Sea Fleet announced it would participate in annual joint military exercises with the Republic of China Navy, which includes the carrier group Liaoning and the “Yantai Jinhao” guided missile destroyer, in which the two navies train and perform joint operations on the Taiwan Strait.

The Republic of China Navy (ROCN) is also participating in an “Unmored Air Fleet exercise” in the South China Sea, to raise air combat ability to enhance national defense forces in its Northeast China. The ROCN will hold air combat exercises with allies in the Far East and in northern seas from April 23-27 (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/eng/article.php?story=2015-03-16/world/asia/2527884.htm).

Japan maintains a non-strategic relationship with China that dates back hundreds of years, including its bases in Okinawa, China