During an interview with Express.co.uk, Ellwood warned that China could find itself in a confident position if the West fails to find a solution to the communist nation's aggression.

He told the newspaper that the West would experience a very miserable century if China were to grow more powerful.

Ellwood said: "We are still coming to terms with what we need to do about China."

"In my view, this is very serious indeed, the world is splintering into two competing spheres of influence," he said.

"We have about the next four of five years to work out what the West needs to do to work with and allow a graceful avenue for China and the rest of the world to work together," he said.

"If we don't find a solution then we will be so disempowered that China will hold all the cards," he said.

"That I think is going to make for a very miserable century," he said.

He even warned that China's strengthening relationship with Russia would prove to be a problem.

"This is the real test for the West, if it gets to that point of military conflict," he said.