China has 20 outposts in the Paracel Islands which it first occupied in 1955 and 7 in the Spratly Islands which have been occupied since the 1980’s and 1990’s.
There are substantial aviation and naval facilities in Woody Island, Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef. Many other occupied reefs host similar facilities. China has stated that these bases are part of their strategy to operate surface action groups with aviation support into the Indian Ocean and beyond. They are planned to be refuelling stages and bases for forward deployed ships and aircraft. Their legal status can be debated by the rest of the world but China knows that they are there to stay and no one is going to remove them from these occupied reefs.
This and not the forced capture of Taiwan is their main focus of attention. The forces they are developing are for global power protection. It will take time to achieve their stated aim of being the major superpower on earth but they are marching ahead in that direction.
All of this can take place in a situation where global trade and the free right of navigation exist.