(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-16 09:01

LONDON - Britain is opposed to the planned referendum on joining the United Nations in the name of Taiwan, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday.

"We want to see tensions across the Taiwan Strait reduced and the Taiwan issue peacefully resolved. So it follows that we're opposed to the planned referendum on joining the UN in the name of Taiwan,"  Brown said in a written interview with correspondents of Xinhua News Agency and the People's Daily based in London.

The referendum will "do nothing to change Taiwan's status on the international stage," Brown said, adding if it passes, it could raise tension in the region.

The prime minister said "Our 'One China' policy has been unchanged since 1972 when we exchanged ambassadors with China."

Brown gave the interview ahead of his forthcoming visit to China, which is scheduled for January 18-20.