President Xi Jinping delivered a blistering nationalist speech Tuesday, warning against any attempts to split China and touting the country's readiness to fight "the bloody battle" to regain its rightful place in the world.

Mr Xi, who is set to rule China for life having scrapped presidential term limits, lauded his vision of the “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”.

He sent strong warnings to Taiwan and Hong Kong, self-governed regions that the Communist Party of China (CPC) seeks to unify politically with the mainland, saying that any efforts made towards their independence would be “doomed”.

In front of around 3,000 CPC delegates in the Great Hall next to Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, Mr Xi declared: "The Chinese people have been indomitable and persistent, we have the spirit of fighting the bloody battle against our enemies to the bitter end.”

He said that China, which has been building military facilities in disputed territory in the South China Sea and has established military bases on recognised foreign soil since Mr Xi came to power in 2012, would not seek expansion. "Only those who are accustomed to threatening others will see everyone as a threat," he said.