TOKYO, Feb. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Japan's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the country's position on the Taiwan issue remained unchanged.

    The foreign ministry made its position clear, after Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian declared on Monday that the Taiwan-based "National Unification Council" should "cease to function" and the unification guidelines should "cease to apply."

    The foreign ministry said Japan's position on the Taiwan issue remained the same as that in the Joint Statement signed with China in 1972.

    The ministry said Japan did not want the status quo to be broken by any unilateral action from both sides of the Taiwan Straits so as to avoid further intensification of the situation.

    The ministry added that any military or political confrontation should be avoided.

    It is hoped that any dispute will be peacefully settled through direct dialogue, the ministry said.

    Also on Tuesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told a news conference that the status quo should not be changed before any agreement was reached between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. Enditem