OPPOSITION URGED TO SUPPORT REFERENDUM ON CHINA'S MISSILE THREAT
2003-12-04 23:20:54
Taipei, Dec. 4 (CNA) A spokesman for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) urged the opposition Thursday to support the holding of a referendum slated for March 20, 2004 to demand that Beijing dismantle its missiles targeting Taiwan.
Lee Ying-yuan, deputy secretary-general of the DPP, made the appeal when commenting on an announcement made by the legislative caucuses of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP) that they would introduce two resolutions concerning Taiwan's status quo and the military threat from mainland China in the legislature.
Lee said that he is pleased to see that the opposition shares the the same position of his party with regard to Taiwan's security.
However, he said, the result of a referendum is a stronger expression by the people on issues than resolutions adopted by the legislature.
Addressing a rally in southern Taiwan last Sunday, President Chen Shui-bian, who doubles as DPP chairman, said Beijing's deployment of 496 missiles aimed at Taiwan is a sufficient reason for a "defensive referendum" to be called on the day of the next presidential election on March 20, 2004.
Tseng Yung-chuan, executive director of the KMT's central policy department, said that the two resolutions -- that the status quo as an independent, sovereign Republic of China will be maintained, and that mainland China should gradually withdraw its missiles targeting Taiwan, will represent the common will of the people.
He said that if the resolutions pass unanimously in the Legislative Yuan, President Chen will have no need to initiate his defensive referendum.
(By Huang Kwang-chun)
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