"We don't want a situation in which Taiwan's referendum leads to tensions between (the two sides)," said Fukuda, who is in China for a four-day visit.

China and Taiwan split after a civil war in 1949 but China still regards the island as a part of its territory and in 2005 passed an anti-secession law that provided the legal framework for retaking Taiwan by force.

Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party has angered China by pushing ahead with plans to hold a referendum alongside a presidential vote next year on whether to seek UN membership under the name "Taiwan".

Many countries, including the United States, have opposed the referendum because it would be seen as a step to declaring full independence.

"I told Prime Minster Wen that we can't support any unilateral action that is aimed at changing the status quo," Fukuda said.

His comment came after Wen told reporters that "the Chinese side understands that Japan will keep its one-China policy and will not support Taiwan's independence".

He added: "Prime Minister Fukuda assured me that he wouldn't support Taiwan's referendum."

Tokyo switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1972 and has since barred official contacts with Taiwan.

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