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U.S. DOES NOT OPPOSE TAIWAN'S REFERENDUM PLAN: TSU LAWMAKER

2003-12-12 15:48:06

    Taipei, Dec. 12 (CNA) The United States is not opposed to Taiwan holding a referendum but concerned about the issues to be put to a referendum, an opposition Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) lawmaker said Friday.

    Legislator Liao Pen-yen, who concurrently serves as the TSU legislative caucus' convener, made the remarks after a breakfast meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien and Antonio Chiang, deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council.

    Liao quoted Chien as having told TSU lawmakers that the Bush administration has never opposed Taiwan's plan to hold a referendum. "But Chien acknowledged that the U.S. government is concerned about the topics to be put to a referendum," Liao said.

    President Chen Shui-bian's administration is facing intense pressure from the United States -- Taiwan's most important friend -- since Chen announced that he wants to hold a "defensive referendum" on the day of the next presidential election on March 20, 2004 to gauge public opinion on whether the government should demand that Beijing stop pointing hundreds of missiles at Taiwan.

    American officials have said that such a referendum could raise the risk of conflict with mainland China, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan.

    U.S. President George W. Bush said Tuesday after a meeting with mainland Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the White House that he opposes any moves that might disrupt the delicate status quo in Taiwan-China relations.

    According to Liao, Chiang said at the breakfast meeting that the topic to be to a referendum must be clear and complete.

    In Chiang's view, Liao said, asking Beijing to withdraw its missiles aimed at Taiwan is not complete if it serves as a referendum topic. "Perhaps we can add a clause to the referendum agenda that says if mainland China stops pointing missiles at Taiwan, Taiwan would be willing to negotiate opening direct trade, mail and transportation links with Beijing," Liao explained, adding that further discussions are needed before a referendum agenda can be set.

    Meanwhile, Chien told reporters after the meeting that Taiwan-U.S. relations have not been affected by the just-concluded Bush-Wen meeting. As to Washington-Beijing relations, Chien said, the Bush-Wen talks have helped clear up some ambiguities in their bilateral ties. In his view, Chien said, Washington and Beijing have turned from strategic competitors to strategic partners following their meeting.

    In the face of recent developments in the Taiwan-U.S.-mainland China relations, Chiang said the government will make the "best possible preparations for the worst."

    Asked whether Taiwan's referendum plan will cause mainland China to attack Taiwan, Chiang said he sees no signs of an impending crisis at the moment.

(By Sofia Wu)

ENDITEM/J