China must prepare for 'real combat' warns president Xi Jinping after his country conducted three days of war games on the doorstep of Taiwan - as Beijing vows to 'resolutely defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime interest' 

Chinese warships and planes have just concluded three days of 'war games' that simulated a blockade and bombardment of Taiwan. It came after Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen travelled to LA to meet US House of Representatives speaker Kevin McCarthy.

 .

Zhu Fenglian, from China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said: 'Tsai Ing-wen brought danger to Taiwan. [She] almost completely sided [with] the US, pushing Taiwan into stormy seas.'

There are fears in the West, particularly among the Nato member states, that Mr Jinping may feel emboldened by Russian president Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine to launch a similar offensive on Taiwan.

China's claim that it is the same nation as Taiwan is similar to Mr Putin's stated belief that Ukraine is part of Russia.

And, much like Russia's military in the months before last year's invasion, Chinese forces have been making their intentions increasingly clear.

Mr Jinping's government has protested that the US has increased its support for Taiwan and is challenging Beijing's maritime claims in the South China Sea, where America and the Philippines are staging their largest ever joint military drills this week.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said he was committed to 'standing with the Philippines against any intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea'.

However, French president Emmanuel Macron this week highlighted a possible divide in the Nato alliance by saying Europe should not become a 'vassal' and must avoid being drawn into any conflict between the US and China over Taiwan.

The island split from China in the mid-20th century after the Communists took control of the mainland and the government of the previous Republic of China consolidated its remaining strength in Taiwan.

Over time, this authoritarian government evolved into a functioning democracy and also enjoyed the fruits of a free market boom in the 1960s.

Its political and economic liberalism now stands in stark contrast to the mainland regime and any attempted invasion by China would likely provoke nearby Japan, the Philippines and US-led Nato into defending Taiwan.