Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian says he plans to join a rally Saturday in Taipei to protest China's threat to use force against the island if it formally declares independence.
The protest is being held amid this week's one-year anniversary of China's approval of an anti-secession law.
The law says China will employ "non-peaceful means" to prevent Taiwan's independence if efforts at peaceful reunification fail.
China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war, but Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province.
Mr. Chen angered Beijing last month when he decided to stop funding a unification council and scrap guidelines for reunification with China.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.