The Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) and the United States Forces Japan (USFJ) from Jan. 23-27 will hold complex table-top military exercises aimed at defeating a massive amphibious invasion of  the Republic of China (Taiwan) by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) across the Taiwan Strait.

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The simulation will determine how best JSDF and USFJ can assist Taiwan defeat a Chinese invasion across the 180 kilometer-wide Taiwan Strait. Taiwan published a report in 2015 saying China plans to attack Taiwan before 2020.

Japan's Ministry of Defense said the military exercise is based on a scenario in which the JSDF and USFJ jointly deal with PLA forces in the event of an invasion of Taiwan. The United States is obligated by several treaties extending back to the 1950s to defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion by China.

The ministry, however, said USFJ will participate as "an observer."

As expected, China angrily criticized news of the joint simulated war exercise, saying it would seriously sabotage China-Japan relations, especially defense relations.

Chinese military media quoted an unnamed high-ranking PLA officer saying that if the report of the exercise, "were true, it would be outright interference in China's internal affairs, a deliberate mischief in cross-Strait relations and a serious sabotage of the relations, especially the defense relations between China and Japan, China is firmly opposed to this. "

"Past experience, if lessons from its past and stop playing tricks, otherwise it will suffer from the backfire in the end," he said.

The same officer said Japan should earnestly reflect on its history of aggression and learn from it.

Taiwan is currently upgrading the fighting ability of its armed forces to deter China.

In August 2016, the Republic of China Armed Forces (ROCAF) held its largest military exercise ever, simulating the defeat of a seaborne invasion and aerial assault on the island by Chinese infantry and Special Forces.

ROC President Tsai Ing-wen, a vocal critic of China, presided over the fourth day of the multi-service maneuvers that saw live fire drills conducted at the Joint Operations Training Base Command at Pingtung County in southern Taiwan. The drills ended Aug. 26.

The massive five-day exercise was the largest ever in the ROC's history and also included cyberattack and asymmetric warfare drills. It came at a time of increasingly strained relations with mainland China that keeps piling the pressure on Tsai to take a more pro-Beijing stance, and acknowledge there is only "One China."

TagsJapan Self-Defense Force, United States Forces Japan, Republic of China, Taiwan, People's Liberation Army, Taiwan Strait, Japan, China-Japan Dispute