China has released a Dad’s Army-style animated map of a future takeover of Taiwan, while surrounding its islands with battleships and aircraft in a simulated invasion.

China deployed fighter jets and warships to encircle Taiwan on Monday, in drills Beijing said were aimed at sending a "stern warning" to "separatist" forces on the self-ruled island. Beijing has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control,

In a significant move on Monday, China's coastguard vessels circled Taiwan and staged patrols close to Taiwan's offshore islands of Matsu and Dongyin, entering the "restricted waters" of Matsu island for the first time to "tear up" boundaries set by Taiwan authorities, according to state broadcaster CCTV.