US Secretary of State Colin Powell stressed Wednesday that Washington does not see the need for Taiwan to hold any "referendum."

"We don't really see a need for these referenda," Powell told a hearing at the International Relations Committee of the US House of Representatives.

"We made it clear to them ... that we do not want to see these actions lead in any way to a change in the situation," Powell said.

Powell said the United States remains fully supportive and totally committed to the one-China policy.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of China. China's fundamental policy on the Taiwan issue is "peaceful reunification " and "one country, two systems." The attempts of the Taiwan authorities to use democracy as an excuse to hold a referendum to split China have been widely condemned by the international community.

(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2004)