BEIJING URGED TO CALMLY ANALYZE CHEN'S 'DEFENSIVE REFERENDUM' PROPOSAL
2003-11-30 20:00:41
Taipei, Nov. 30 (CNA) Mainland China should calmly watch developments in President Chen Shui-bian's proposal to hold a "defensive referendum" on the day of Taiwan's next presidential election, a senior Presidential Office official said Sunday.
In an effort to calm fears that Chen's "defensive referendum" proposal could draw strong reaction, including a military attack, from mainland China, Chiou I-jen, secretary-general to the president, said President Chen is unlikely to offend Taiwan's newly passed referendum law in holding a "defensive referendum." "Chen is a lawyer-turned politician. He is unlikely to break the law. And as a ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will not do anything illegal, " Chiou said, adding that local people, opposition politicians in particular, need not worry or speculate about the "defensive referendum" proposal.
The president's chief of staff also urged Beijing authorities to refrain from making saber-rattling moves over the proposal. "We hope mainland authorities can remain calm and quietly watch developments surrounding the issue."
Chiou's remarks came a day after Chen said at a rally supporting his re-election bid that he would hold Taiwan's first-ever referendum on safeguarding national security and sovereignty on presidential election day on March 20, 2004 in line with the referendum law passed by the opposition-controlled Legislative Yuan Thursday.
Article 17 of the new referendum law empowers the president to initiate a referendum on national security issues should the nation come under the threat of external invasion. The threat which could trigger such an action, dubbed a "defensive referendum, " is tacitly seen as coming from mainland China.
Commenting on the opposition "pan-blue alliance's" allegations that Chen's "defensive referendum" proposal is a campaign ploy aimed at provoking Beijing to win local voters' sympathies, Chiou said such allegations were superficial. "The ultimate goal of the planned 'defensive referendum' is to force mainland China to review its hostile strategies toward Taiwan. In addition to military threats, Beijing has for decades spared no efforts to suppress Taiwan's presence in the international arena. Should Taiwan continue to quietly endure such threats and unfair treatment? We hope the planned 'defensive referendum' can push mainland China to take a second look on whether its hostile strategies contribute to stability in the Taiwan Strait, " Chiou explained.
Noting that the passage of the referendum bill marks a significant step forward in Taiwan's democratic development, Chiou said the people of Taiwan should treasure the new law even though its content is not perfect. "We have come a long way to realize this goal of referendum legislation. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) failed to legislate a referendum bill during its 55-year rule of Taiwan. The DPP administration has made it just after three years in office. The passage of the law marks a success for the DPP as it has realized a long-term goal of the party," Chiou said.
He further said Chen has yet to flesh out details or specific topics for the proposed "defensive referendum." "The exact issues to be put up for referendum have not been decided. We'd like to hear from the public. We want feedback," Chiou said.
He reminded mainland China and Taiwan's "pan-blue alliance" of the KMT and the People First Party that the DPP has banned its members, including President Chen, from pushing for changing Taiwan's status quo since it passed a resolution on Taiwan's future in 1999. "The resolution clearly states that Taiwan is an independent sovereign state officially designated as the Republic of China. No DPP member has ever proposed any change to this resolution. It is regretful that mainland China and Taiwan's two major opposition parties have repeatedly alleged our efforts to strengthen Taiwan's democratic system as moves to promote independence," Chiou said.
Meanwhile, Legislator Chen Chi-mai, also a DPP legislative whip, said the planned "defensive referendum" is aimed at safeguarding the ROC's independent sovereign status, not at changing its status quo. "The ultimate goal of the 'defensive referendum' is to defend the status quo. It should not be interpret as an 'independence vs. unification' vote which could lead to changes to our present status quo," Chen Chi-mai explained, adding that the planned "defensive referendum" will by no means violate President Chen's "four noes plus one" pledge outlined in his inaugural speech back in 2000.
(By Sofia Wu)
enditem/mw
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
