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MAINLAND POLICY TO REMAIN INTACT DESPITE REFERENDUM BILL: MAC

20031128

    Taipei, Nov. 28 (CNA) Taiwan's policy toward mainland China will 
   remain unchanged despite the passage of a referendum bill by the 
   Legislative Yuan a day earlier, a senior mainland affairs official 
   said Friday. 
    Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong reiterated 
   that referendum legislation is part of Taiwan's efforts to strengthen 
   its democratic system and has little to do with relations across the 
   Taiwan Strait. 
    "We hope the mainland Chinese authorities appreciate our people's 
   desire for full democracy and refrain from distorting our democratic 
   reform drive as moves to promote independence," Chen said. 
    Noting that referendum legislation is a critical step in Taiwan's 
   democratic reform, Chen said mainland officials should not make 
   saber-rattling gestures to cause cross-strait tension. 
    He further said Taiwan's stance on maintaining peaceful and 
   stable cross-strait relations and defending its national sovereignty 
   is crystal clear and will not be subject to any change in the wake of 
   referendum legislation. 
    "We believe cross-strait relations will improve if mainland China 
   can correctly and accurately interpret our basic national policy and 
   stances," he added. 
   (By Sofia Wu) 
   ENDITEM/J