Yesterday's crash of a military aircraft in Hainan province comes amid reports that the Chinese navy has been staging military exercises near the area this week.
A PLA Daily report, that was also carried by Xinhua, said the navy had been holding war games in the East China Sea. The PLA has built up a strong naval and air force presence on Hainan because of its proximity to Taiwan.
The PLA Daily report said the exercises were hi-tech and information-related manoeuvres involving missile frigates and missile destroyers. They were being held in an unspecified area in the East China Sea.
It was not clear if the military aircraft that crashed near Wenchang yesterday was part of the exercises.
In April 2001, a row between Beijing and Washington broke out when a Chinese jet fighter plunged into the sea off Hainan after colliding with an American spy plane. The pilot of the Chinese jet, Wang Wei , was never found and is presumed to have died.
Hainan province is under the administration of the Guangzhou Military Region.