Officials in Beijing have refused to confirm a report that China is preparing to hold military exercises opposite Taiwan, the "renegade" island.
A government supported website, Beijingnews.com.cn, and the Beijing Morning Post claimed yesterday that thousands of soldiers, backed by tanks, fighter aircraft, submarines and missile batteries, are preparing for the biggest military exercises in years.
The reports claim the exercises would be centred on and around Dongshan Island in the Taiwan Strait.
Railroads and roadways in Fujian Province were said to be full of military vehicles and railcars carrying equipment for the exercises to be dubbed "Liberation No. 1", the reports said.
The exercises are said to signal China's "strong opposition" to the government of the Taiwanese leader, President Chen Shui-bian, and his failure to improve ties with mainland China since he became president a year ago.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman played down the significance of the manoeuvres, saying it was normal for a country's army to carry out military exercises.
The Beijing Morning Post said the planned exercises were a reflection of the Chinese government's determination to "protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity".
Beijing News said the exercises were a "military warning" to President Chen and to President Bush not to play over the Taiwan question.
President Chen arrived in Honduras yesterday on the final leg of a five-nation tour of Latin America that followed a stopover in New York, where he infuriated China by meeting members of Congress. Beijing is particularly incensed that Mr Chen has refused to accept the "one-China principle".
The manoeuvres come as relations between China and the US have soured over a spy plane collision, the decision by the US to sell Taiwan a multi-billion dollar weapons package, and visits to the US by Mr Chen and the Dalai Lama.