BEIJING OBSTRUCTING TAIWAN'S DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT: MAC HEAD
2003-12-11 23:15:55
Taipei, Dec. 11 (CNA) Beijing is obstructing Taiwan's democratic development by deploying nearly 500 missiles targeting the island and intentionally distorting the intent behind President Chen Shui-bian's plan to hold a referendum and reform the Constitution, Taiwan's top mainland policy planner said Thursday.
Speaking on the first day of a two-day international conference titled "the Rise of China Revisited: Perception and Reality, " Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen said that both holding a referendum and conducting constitutional reforms are normal practices in a democratic nation and are aimed at consolidating Taiwan's democracy.
Although mainland China has great potential for development, it is an uncertain factor for the global economy and politics in light of its constant intimidation of Taiwan, according to Tsai.
She listed three conditions for creating a favorable environment for peacefully settling differences between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait: Mainland China must continue to maintain its economic prosperity and social stability; Beijing must understand the meaning and function of democracy in modern society, while educating its people about the concept of democracy and its implementation; and Beijing must be urged to stop using nationalism as a means of dealing with international affairs and the cross-Taiwan Strait issue.
More than 30 experts from the United States, Japan and Taiwan participated in the conference organized by the Institute of International Relations under National Chengchi University.
(By Huang Kwang-chun)
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