China says it will not renounce the use of force in efforts to reunify Taiwan with the mainland and has vowed to take all necessary military measures to defeat "separatists", according to a white paper released by Beijing.

Key points: China's Defence Ministry warns against seeking Taiwan independence

China's Defence Ministry warns against seeking Taiwan independence The white paper states the national goal is to protect its interest and security

The white paper states the national goal is to protect its interest and security It also states that the South China Sea and Diaoyu Islands are inseparable from China

The national defence white paper, released for the first time in four years on Wednesday, states among Beijing's top priority is to contain "Taiwan independence" and combat what it considers separatist forces in Tibet and the far west region of Xinjiang.

Titled "China's National Defence in the New Era", it was released with a view to help the international community better understand China's national defence strategies under President Xi Jinping.

It highlights China's mission to reform the national defence and military forces as well as its "defensive" approach, whilst also pledging to "surely counterattack if attacked".

According to the white paper, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will resolutely defeat anyone attempting to separate Taiwan from the motherland and safeguard national unity at all costs.

It underlines that "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and their actions remain the gravest immediate threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the biggest barrier hindering the peaceful reunification of the country.

Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said the threat of Taiwan separatism is growing and warned that people and nations who sought Taiwan independence would meet a dead end.

"It anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will certainly fight, resolutely defending the country's sovereign unity and territorial integrity," Mr Wu said in a press conference on Wednesday.

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"[Taiwan] has rejected the 1992 Consensus. It has pushed for gradual independence and it buoyed itself up by leaning on foreign forces.

"They are going further and further down the road of separation."

Taiwan, a democratically governed island, split from the Communist Party-ruled mainland China amid civil war in 1949. China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and seeks "complete reunification".

The United States has repeatedly raised Beijing's ire by selling arms to Taiwan. While the US does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, US law requires that it provide Taiwan with sufficient defence equipment and services for self-defence.

China 'never seeks hegemony'

Beijing's competing territory claims in the South China Sea. ( ABC News: Illustration/Jarrod Fankhauser )

The white paper states that the fundamental goal of China's national defence is to resolutely safeguard the country's sovereignty, security and development interests.

However, it states that China never seeks hegemony, expansion or spheres of influences in pursuing its national defence.

The strategic goals includes a complete modernisation of the military by 2035 and to transform the people's armed forces into world-class forces.

It also reinforces that the contested waters of the South China Sea and Diaoyu Islands (referred to as Senkaku in Japan) are inseparable parts of the Chinese territory.

Therefore it claims that building infrastructure, deploying defensive capabilities on the islands and reefs, and conducting patrols around the waters of the South China Sea is within its national sovereignty.

The white paper also discusses the instability facing international security, stating that the world is not peaceful.

It specifically accuses the US, Japan and Australia for bringing "uncertainties" to the Asia-Pacific region by increasing its military presence and alliances.

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