BEIJING China warned of "serious damage" to Sino-U.S. relations if a proposed transit through Los Angeles Airport by Taiwan President Chen Shui-Bian goes ahead next week, state media said on Monday.
The Chinese government had made "serious representations" about the U.S. allowing Chen's transit and had expressed its "strong dissatisfaction" and "firm opposition", Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao told national radio.
"The Taiwan authorities are using transit as an excuse to carry out separatist activities," Zhu said.
Chen plans to land in the U.S., which has no official ties with Taiwan, on August 13 for an overnight stopover en route to the Caribbean.
The U.S. has issued Chen with a transit visa but has said no government officials would meet him.
U.S. officials later Monday defended the decision to allow Chen's Los Angeles stopover as routine.
"This is the normal kind of transit that is done for the safety and comfort of the traveler," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.
Noting that President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will be in Los Angeles at the same time attending the Democratic Party convention, Boucher stressed that "no meetings are expected with U.S. officials".
On Friday, Beijing reacted angrily to a call by 12 countries for the United Nations to consider admitting Taiwan, saying the move was "gross interference" and a "flagrant violation" of the UN charter.
China also marked its August 1 Army Day with a warning to Taiwan that it had "the firm determination and necessary means to stop all separatist activities".
(DPA)