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REFERENDUM AIMED AT URGING BEJING TO WITHDRAW MISSILES: PRESIDENT

2003-12-06 20:54:50

Taipei, Dec. 6 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said in an interview with the New York Times Friday that his administration's plan to hold a referendum next March is aimed at urging mainland China to withdraw its ballistic missiles targeting Taiwan and to renounce the use of force against the island.

Chen stressed that a referendum represents a concept and belief that he has pursued throughout his more-than-20-year political career. "It is a universal value and a basic human right," Chen said, adding that personal ambition is not a factor in his decision to hold a referendum on the day of Taiwan's next presidential election on March 20, 2004. "I'm already a president and it doesn't make a big difference to me whether I serve for one term or two terms," he said.

Taiwan's newly passed referendum law empowers the president to initiate a referendum on national security issues in case of an external threat. Chen said last Sunday Beijing's deployment of nearly 500 missiles aimed at Taiwan is sufficient reason for a "preventive referendum" to be called on the day of the March 20 presidential election. His declaration aroused concern that the move might provoke Beijing, which has threatened to attack Taiwan should the island declare independence.

Chen said in the New York Times interview that the planned referendum will focus on Beijing's missile deployment, not independence. The referendum will help Taiwan people and other countries around the world understand mainland China's ever growing military threat, Chen said, adding that awareness of the threat will contribute to alleviating risks of conflict.

Chen further said his administration has informed the United States of its referendum plan. Taiwan needs strong U.S. support for its democratic development, he added.

Reiterating that the planned referendum, the first of its kind in Taiwan's history, Chen said it will mark a milestone in strengthening and consolidating Taiwan's young democracy.

Chen said Taiwan once suffered from martial law rule. During that era, he recalled, Taiwan's pro-democracy efforts always encountered opposition from mainland China and the then-Kuomintang administration.

In related news development, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party said Saturday President Chen will formally announce guidelines for the referendum agenda at a Hakka people rally Sunday in support of his re-election bid.

(By Sofia Wu)

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