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PRESIDENT CHEN PUTS FORTH THREE QUESTIONS TO MAINLAND PRESIDENT

2003-12-13 20:36:53

    Taipei, Dec. 13 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian put forward three questions to mainland Chinese President Hu Jintao Saturday in a speech delivered at a national congress of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

    President Chen challenged the top mainland Chinese leader to answer why the term "one country on each side of the Taiwan Strait" does not apply, why China cannot renounce the use of force against Taiwan and cannot remove its hundreds of missiles pointed at Taiwan, as well as why Taiwan cannot take part in the World Health Organization (WHO).

    In his speech, Chen also reaffirmed his determination to hold a "defensive referendum" on the day of the next presidential election on March 20, 2004 that would allow the people of Taiwan to voice their opposition to mainland China's missile deployment against their country. "We'll hold the referendum to express our opposition to missiles and war while highlighting our desires for peace and democracy," Chen said, adding that protecting Taiwan from China's threat is one of his most important missions as the nation's top leader.

    Commenting on Beijing's harsh criticism of Taiwan's referendum plan, Chen said he wants to represent the 23 million people of Taiwan in asking mainland Chinese President Hu why his description of "one country on each side of the Taiwan Strait" cannot apply since Taiwan is a democratic country while mainland China is a communist state.

    Stressing that the people of Taiwan love peace, Chen asked Hu why Beijing cannot publicly renounce its option of using force against Taiwan and dismantle its missiles deployed against Taiwan.

    Chen further asked Hu why Taiwan should be denied access to the WHO even though its people want to play an active role in world health care and medical affairs.

    If Beijing authorities cannot make a goodwill response to these questions, Chen said, then he believes the Taiwan people will come up with options in the March 20 referendum.

    Chen further said the Taiwan people have the right to voice their opposition to the missile threat posed by the mainland and their desire for democracy, and to declare to the world that "military force is never a means or option for solving the cross-strait issue."

    Noting that mainland China's missile deployment has not only threatened peace in the Taiwan Strait but also stability in the entire Asia-Pacific region, Chen said the world should not accept Beijing's military threat to Taiwan as a matter of course.

    He reminded the world that mainland China's military build-up, rather than Taiwan's referendum plan, is a threat to Taiwan's status quo and that Taiwan's pursuit of full democracy should not be considered as an act of provocation against China.

    Describing his nomination as the DPP candidate for the next presidential election as the beginning of "an enormous duty and a new hope, " Chen said he will lead the DPP and the people of Taiwan in "turning a marvelous page" in the nation's history.

    Chen said "believing in Taiwan, insisting on reforms" will be his presidential campaign theme. He reaffirmed his determination to complete the democratic reform "trilogy" -- namely holding Taiwan's first-ever referendum on March 20, 2004, writing a new constitution for Taiwan in 2006, and enacting the new constitution on May 20, 2008, to make Taiwan a "normal, complete and great" democratic country. "In the first step, the DPP must win the 2004 presidential election, " Chen said. "If we manage to win the election, we have the mandate to push the opposition 'pan-blue alliance' of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP) to normalize domestic inter-party relations and to force the Chinese Communist Party on the mainland to normalize cross-strait relations," he noted.

    In the second stage, Chen said, the DPP must do its utmost to win a majority in the next legislative elections to be held in late 2004. "Once the DPP and its allies manage to gain a majority in the Legislative Yuan, we'll be able to normalize relations between the legislative and executive branches and enhance administrative efficiency," he pointed out.

    In the third phase, Chen continued, the DPP will push for the formulation of a new constitution to be put to a referendum in 2006 and for formal implementation from May 20, 2008. "By then, all the constitutional chaos will have become history and Taiwan will have become a genuine and great democracy," he said.

    Recalling that Taiwan's democracy, prosperity and peace have never been godsent, but rather hard-won achievements, Chen said his determination to carry out sweeping democratic reform will never be swayed by pressure by Beijing or domestic opposition parties.

    Over the past three years, Chen said, his administration has continued to push for reforms and has displayed its capability of implementation, which is reflected in recent favorable ratings by international assessment organizations.

    In his 30-minute speech, Chen also outlined his economic platform, saying that the "10 new major public construction projects" unveiled by the Cabinet will further upgrade Taiwan's national competitiveness and enhance the quality of life.

    The new projects are expected to create 64,000 jobs per year, Chen said, adding that they will also help raise Taiwan's annual economic growth by 1.03 percent over the next five years.

    If re-elected, Chen said, he will achieve within three years the "3-4-5" goal -- meaning that the budget for research and development will reach over 3 percent of the gross domestic product, the jobless rate will drop to below 4 percent in two years, and the economic growth will increase to 5 percent in 2004.

    Chen further said the upcoming presidential election will be a "three-versus" competition, meaning his advocacy of "one country on each side of the Taiwan Strait" versus the pan-blue alliance's "one China" notion; insistence on reforms rather than the restoration of the corrupt "black gold" of the previous administration; and faith in Taiwan rather than pessimism.

(By Sofia Wu)

ENDITEM/Li