Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. called on Taiwan to maintain the status quo on its cross-Strait policy, three weeks after Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said he was considering scrapping a council on eventual reunification with the mainland.

``American policy on cross-Strait issues is firm and unchanging,'' David Keegan, acting director of the American Institute in Taiwan, the U.S.'s de facto diplomatic mission, said in an e-mailed statement issued last night. ``Our strong desire is that Taiwan's policy not depart from that strong foundation.''

The U.S. on Jan. 30 said it was maintaining its ``One China'' policy concerning Taiwan and the mainland after Chen said in a speech the day before he may abolish the National Unification Council and the Guidelines for National Unification. Keegan's comment came after Chen told U.S. legislator Rob Simmons in Taipei Feb. 22 he is still considering scrapping the council and the guidelines.

Keegan was addressing the American Chamber of Commerce last night in a Lunar New Year gathering in Taipei, which Chen also attended. ``We are pleased that tensions in the Strait have diminished from the peaks that we have seen in the past,'' Keegan said. ``We want that situation to continue.'' Chen last night didn't mention his plan to abolish the council.

The 1991 guidelines, adopted as the blueprint for the government's cross-Strait policy, set a goal of a unified China with a democratic government and an equitable distribution of wealth. They also outline the steps both sides can take in the near, medium and long-term toward unification after they split in 1949 at the end of the country's civil war.

China Warning

China yesterday said Taiwan's leadership is threatening cross-Strait relations and regional stability by proposing to abolish the council.

``Taiwan independence forces are sending dangerous signals that will hurt relations across the Taiwan Strait and stability in the Asian region,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said during a regular briefing in Beijing. ``We hope other countries will take more actions to discourage wrong actions by Taiwan independence forces.''

China considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be reunited, by force if necessary. Leaders in Beijing last year enacted the anti-secession law that gives China the legal right to take military action against the island in case leaders there declared formal independence.

To contact the reporter on this story: James Peng in Taipei at jpeng7@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: February 24, 2006 02:18 EST