CHINA may choose between options to take Taiwan which includes a 48-hour blitz or a slow blockade squeeze, diplomatic sources claim.
Tensions are high after China deployed masses of military equipment to effectively blockade Taiwan during a string of war games.
If China decides to take Taiwan, it will plan to carry out "a lightning-fast 48-hour offensive" to leave the West scrambling to respond, diplomatic sources have told The Telegraph.
The publication understands the tactic has been a lesson learned from Moscow's invasion after Western leaders took two days to respond to President Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine.
It's thought the crucial window of time to act has been deduced from Russia's failure to take Kyiv and topple Volodymyr Zelensky's government.
Diplomatic sources say President Xi believes Western "significant" support could have been handed to Ukraine during this time and doesn't want to give the same opportunity to Taiwan.
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Beijing has been ramping up military drills near the island as fears of an imminent invasion swell.
Tensions between the two nations have hit boiling point in recent days, with China continuing to flex its military muscles by launching jets into Taiwan's airspace and firing missiles in haunting drills.
Beijing has essentially surrounded the island – which it regards as a breakaway province – with 68 jets and 13 warships, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence has said.
In recent days, more than 100 warplanes and 10 warships have been at the centre of live-fire military drills around Taiwan.
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China has issued a chilling warning to Taiwan by releasing footage of field hospital rehearsals – suggesting it is preparing for mass casualties.
BLOCKADE
Taiwan could be financially, economically and operationally drained if Beijing extended military exercises.
Forces would be able to ready themselves in the best possible positions to launch attacks on Taiwan.
China launched its largest-ever military exercises around Taiwan on Thursday in a show of force straddling vital international shipping lanes.
Taiwan has been on high alert after China vowed "punishment" ion response to a visit by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Polosi to the island this week – the first Speaker to visit in 25 years.
The war game drills began at 12 pm (0400 GMT) on Thursday and involved "live-firing", according to Chinese state media.
Reports have emerged of small projectiles flying into the sky around Pingtan followed by plumes of white smoke and loud booming sounds.
ISLAND GRAB
Beijing has long held the view the smattering of small Fujian Province islands as part of its own territory.
Some sit less than 10km from China’s mainland, including Kinmen, a chain of islands just east off the coast of Xiamen city in China, and Matsu Islands, northwest of Taiwan.
At little cost, China could invade all or some of the islands, which are home to about 20,000 people, to gauge a reaction from the West.
Grim predictions about the potential war come as China has vowed to reclaim Kinmen.
Taiwan insists it is a independent nation after splitting from mainland China in 1949.
AIR BLITZ
China has already sent 22 warplanes hurtling into Taiwan's airspace as the giant nation continues to flex its military muscles in a message to the US.
Communist forces sent the fighter jets hurtling across the "median line" running down the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, according to the defence ministry in Taipei.
It's believed Being may choose limited punitive attacks from above to weaken Taiwan by targeting coastal defences, radar sites and airfields.
It's thought major population centres would be avoided in hopes of tipping Taiwan to the negotiating table without may avoid reaction from the West.
ALL-OUT OFFENSIVE
China could launch a massive assault on Taiwan that could be even more devastating than Russia's attack on Ukraine, experts warned.
In the event of a wide-scale assault, China would aim to deploy troops at strategic points across the 70-mile Taiwan Strait.
Panic would be felt across the nation in the event cyber-warfare was employed if Taiwan's communications would be disrupted.
Hypersonic missiles such as the DF-17 could be used, it claimed, to hit "moving targets at sea".
Military analysts fear high tech swarms of drones, up to one million soldiers, warships and bombers could all be sent hurtling over the 110mile Taiwan Strait.
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