China has renewed its threat of using military force against Taiwan to prevent it declaring full independence, after Beijing conducted live fire drills and flew fighter planes close to the island this week.

Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said that Beijing would not shy away from unifying the mainland and the island of Taiwan “through force”.

The threat, which came as China’s first domestically made aircraft carrier was being prepared for its maiden voyage, was the latest escalation of tensions between China and self-governing Taiwan.

Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province it will eventually reincorporate into China, having separated from it in 1949 during the Chinese civil war.

“We will try our best for the prospect of peaceful reunification, but I have to point out that to engage in 'Taiwan independence' is a dead end, and there is no way to win an armed confrontation,” Mr Wu said.

"If the secession efforts grow indefinitely, the PLA [China’s People’s Liberation Army] has no choice but to unify Taiwan through force.”