Liu Junchuan, the head of the liaison office of China’s policy-making Taiwan Affairs Office, declared that Beijing favours a “one country, two systems” approach to reunification it claims would be attractive to the Taiwanese people.

He said: "The swift development and massive changes in the mainland of the motherland are creating an increasingly strong attraction for the people of Taiwan.

"The contrast in power across the Taiwan Strait will become wider and wider, and we will have a full, overwhelming strategic advantage over Taiwan.

"The economic, political, social, cultural and military conditions for achieving the complete reunification of the motherland will become even more ample.

"The basic situation of the Taiwan Strait continuing to develop in a direction beneficial to us will not change, and time and momentum are on our side."

A “one country, two systems” approach is similar to that of Hong Kong that operates independently of China in all areas of government except foreign relations and military defence.

The government of Taiwan has insisted that only its people can decide the future of the island.

Relations between Taipei, the Taiwan capital, and Beijing have frayed since a pro-independence party won elections last year.

Island leader Tsai Ing-wen has explained her desire for peace with Xi Jinping, but has warned that any threat to national security will result in defensive moves.

Despite the increased fears of a forthcoming invasion, China insisted that its moves were part of an effort to “reasonably” expand its islands in the South China Sea in a new government report.

As China seemingly pushes to bring Taiwan into its sphere of influence, Xi Jinping has initiated a series of persistent drills in an effort to tighten his grip on the island.

Last week saw Chinese jets carry out “island encirclement patrols” around Taiwan - state media showed pictures of bombers armed with cruise missiles.

The increased exercises from Beijing could suggest the Asian superpower is gathering intelligence before mounting a shocking invasion, according to a Macau-based military observer.

Antony Wong Dong explained: “The recent ‘island encirclement’ patrols are very unusual.

“The air force is conducting very practical and well-planned patrols near Taiwan to collect up-to-date military intelligence.

“But now, the mainland is deploying old and new generations of surveillance planes, fighter jets and other aircraft…indicating the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is stepping up its preparations for war against Taiwan.”

Despite issues with North Korea taking top priority for nations around the globe, China has persisted with efforts to install high-frequency radar on its man-made islands in the South China Sea.

The country faces mounting pressure from the US to tighten its grip on despot leader Kim Jong-un.