A directive issued by the commerce ministry late on Monday advised people to keep daily necessities in stock. The statement comes after Covid outbreaks and unusually heavy rains that caused a surge in vegetable prices raised concerns about supply shortages.
But the directive led to speculation on social media that it may have been triggered by tensions with Taiwan.
In response, the Economic Daily, a Communist Party-backed newspaper, told people not to have "too much of an overactive imagination".
The newspaper added that the directive's purpose was to make sure citizens were not caught off guard if there was a lockdown in their area.
The BBC's China correspondent Stephen McDonell also said the directive was "getting really blown out of proportion".
Taiwan on Wednesday welcomed the first European Parliament delegation to visit the island, calling the trip significant and its latest move towards stronger ties with Europe amid heightened tensions between Taipei and Beijing.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory and has not ruled out taking by force, does not have formal diplomatic relations with any European countries apart from Vatican City.
But it is keen to deepen ties with European Union democracies.
"The delegation was the first official delegation dispatched by the European Parliament to Taiwan in history, which is of great significance," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The delegation, led by French Member of the European Parliament Raphael Glucksmann, will discuss complex threats including disinformation and cyber attacks with Taiwan officials, the ministry added.
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