A top US military figure has declared that China’s continuing missile buildup opposite Taiwan — despite progress on economic and political relations — makes no sense unless Beijing “is preparing for war against the only Chinese democracy.”

Retired admiral James Lyons, former commander in chief of the US Pacific Fleet and senior US military representative to the UN, said: “After a year of dallying, the [US President Barack] Obama administration has started to stand up to China, but it is not doing enough.