WASHINGTON, March 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The U.S. State Department on Thursday asked the Taiwan authorities to correct their comments that there is no distinction between "abolish" and "ceasing activity" with regard to the "National Unification Council."

    "We have seen reports that senior Taiwan officials have said, with respect to the 'National Unification Council', that there is no distinction between 'abolish' and 'ceasing activity' and that the effect of Taiwan's action earlier this week was to abolish the Council," the State Department said in a statement.

    "We expect the Taiwan authorities publicly to correct the record and unambiguously affirm that the February 27 announcement did not abolish the 'National Unification Council', did not change the status quo, and that the assurances remain in effect," the statement added.

    Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian declared on Feb. 27 that the "National Unification Council" (NUC) would "cease to function" and that the "National Unification Guidelines" would "cease to apply,"which has drawn immediate opposition and condemnation from major political parties and groups on the island.

    And at the same time, many countries in the world have reiterated their stand on adhering to the one-China policy and opposing Chen's move of advancing "Taiwan independence".

    "Our understanding from the authorities in Taiwan was that the action Taiwan took on February 27 was deliberately designed not to change the status quo," the U.S. State Department's statement said.

    "Abrogating an assurance would be changing the status quo, and that would be contrary to that understanding," the statement added.

    "We believe the maintenance of Taiwan's assurances is critical to preservation of the status quo. Our firm policy is that there should be no unilateral change in the status quo, as we have said many times," said the statement. Enditem