The South China Morning Post reported on November 25, 2016 that on November 23, 2016 Hongkong Customs officers at Kwai Chung Terminal seized nine advanced combat vehicles tat were on the way back from Taiwan to Singapore. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it opposed any sovereign country having governmental ties with Taiwan, including military exchanges. The seizure has put the spotlight on a four-decade-old military programme between Taiwan and Singapore,about which Beijing is extremely unhappy but whose existence it has tolerated.  Retired PLA Major General Xu Guangyu said the incident shouldn’t be played up. He said “I personally do not think we should complicate this simple incident. It should just be handled according to the relevant maritime law. It does trigger speculation in such an international atmosphere, but I believe it is an accident, not something done on purpose to create tension. Even if China wants to send Singapore a signal, there are numerous ways and channels. This case as leverage is just too loose and weak”.