DPP VIEW OF TAIWAN ISSUE COINCIDES WITH THAT OF U.S.
2003-12-16 23:16:22
Taipei, Dec. 16 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian was quoted as saying at a meeting of his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Tuesday that the party's view of the Taiwan issue coincides with that of the United States.
In an attempt to play down the differences between his government and the United States over his call for a referendum, Chen was cited by DPP member Kao Chih-peng as saying that the remarks made by U.S. President George W. Bush after his talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had two points -- that neither side of the Taiwan Strait should change the status quo unilaterally and that Beijing should not try to sort out its differences with Taiwan by force.
Chen reportedly told his DPP comrades that he fully supports Bush's views and that his call for a referendum urging Beijing to stop aiming missiles at Taiwan is designed to send a message to the world that Taiwan is determined to maintain the status quo in terms of its ties with Beijing and to prevent it from being changed unilaterally with coercion.
According to Kao, who was present at the meeting, Chen said that the United States has stood by Taiwan during its democratic development and should not stand in the way of a referendum that will cement the country's democracy.
Concerned that Chen is using the referendum to justify his attempts to separate from China, the United States has warned Taipei in no uncertain terms against pushing the envelope, but Chen has refused to budge. Instead, he has gone to great lengths to assure the United States that his referendum will reinforce the status quo rather than upset it.
Kao said that many of the top-level DPP members at the meeting shared the president's view, but felt that Taiwan should make greater efforts to get the message across.
(By Maubo Chang)
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