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PRESIDENT CHEN THANKS BUSH FOR SECURITY COMMITMENT TO TAIWAN

2003-12-11 17:48:59

    Taipei, Dec. 11 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian thanked U.S. President George W. Bush in an interview with Cable News Network (CNN) Thursday for his support for Taiwan's security.

    Bush told mainland Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in their meeting at the White House Tuesday that if China uses force or coercion against Taiwan, then the United States would have to get involved.

    Chen said in his interview with CNN Asia correspondent Mike Chinoy that he appreciates Bush's concern and support for Taiwan's security.

    Chen also reiterated that his "defensive referendum" plan is by no means aimed at changing Taiwan's status quo. Chen was responding to Bush's remarks made at a news conference following his talks with Wen that he opposes "comments and actions made by the leader of Taiwan" that indicate that Chen "may be willing to make decisions unilaterally, to change the status quo."

    Chen stressed that the referendum to be held on the day of the next presidential election on March 20, 2004 is to preserve Taiwan's status quo, rather than change it. This stance basically squares with Washington's, he added.

    Noting that the planned referendum will ask Beijing to remove its hundreds of missiles pointed at Taiwan and to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, Chen said he will be willing to shelve the plan so long as mainland China makes a goodwill response.

    Chen said he has on many occasions explained that the referendum plan is a necessary step to strengthen and consolidate Taiwan's young democracy. "The plan has nothing to do with the subject of independence and will not breach my 'four noes plus one' pledge, " Chen said, adding that the scenario of holding the referendum to change Taiwan's status quo would not happen at all.

    In the face of mainland China's missile threat, Chen said, the 23 million Taiwan people should have the right to express their view and feelings.

    The referendum aims to express Taiwan people's feelings, Chen said, adding that it's unfair and illogical to regard the move as an act of provocation to Beijing. Chen said the world should not accept Beijing's missile deployment against Taiwan as a matter of course.

    Chen denied that the referendum plan is a campaign ploy for his re-election bid. Chen said he feels a strong sense of responsibility to have referendums -- a form of democracy and a universal value -- take root in Taiwan. It would help save social costs to time the referendum with the next presidential election, he added.

    Asked whether Beijing regards Taiwan's referendum plan as a step toward independence, Chen said the Republic of China on Taiwan has long been an independent sovereign country and has never been subjugated to the People's Republic of China -- mainland China's official title. "This is the status quo and a historical fact. As the ROC's top leader, I'm obligated to defend national sovereignty and to prevent it from becoming a local government or administrative region of any other country," he stressed.

    In its pursuit of freedom and democracy, Chen said, Taiwan has never intended to provoke a war. If Beijing makes a goodwill response to Taiwan's call for rapprochement and stops pointing missiles at the island, Chen said, it will win Taiwan people's friendship.

    If Beijing insists on twisting Taiwan's referendum plan to mean a provocative act, Chen said, it would only further alienate the people of Taiwan.

(By Sofia Wu)

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