Serious new tensions have arisen between China and Taiwan following the decision of the Taiwanese government to put the word "Taiwan" on its passports.
The move has infuriated China which yesterday claimed the move to add "Issued in Taiwan" in English on the passports was an excuse to "realise the concept of Taiwan independence".
China regards Taiwan as a renegade province which it insists must eventually be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. It has sought to isolate the island diplomatically.
Officials in Taipei said the change was merely a convenience to avoid confusion for Taiwanese travellers overseas and would not involve any altering of the island's official title. "It's a statement of the fact, like we put 'made in Taiwan' for Taiwan-made products," President Chen Shui-bian's office said. "The presidential office feels it is a rational, comprehensive and practical reform, which should not be politicised."
Taiwan currently issues passports that say "Republic of China" on the cover in English and Chinese. The Chinese wording will remain unchanged.
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said the words added to the cover of passports would prevent counterfeits and help overseas customs officers and airlines distinguish between Taiwan and the mainland.
China has been on the alert for any move towards Taiwan statehood since the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party won the presidential election in 2000 and then crushed the Nationalist Party in parliamentary elections last month. The Chinese President, Mr Jiang Zemin, renewed calls for reunification in a New Year's Eve speech.
China has offered Taiwan broad autonomy under the "one country, two systems" formula used for the former British colony Hong Kong, which returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. But Taiwan said the island's future should be determined by its 23 million people.