REFERENDUM AGAINST BEIJING'S MISSILE THREAT NOT PROVOCATIVE: MAC
2003-12-18 23:25:38
Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian's intention to hold a "defensive referendum" on the subject of Beijing's missile threat is not provocative, the head of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Thursday.
In a speech on cross-Taiwan Strait policy and economic relations under globalization, Tsai Ing-wen said that Beijing has long deployed missiles on the mainland coast opposite Taiwan, posing a serious threat to the island's security and to regional stability.
The people of Taiwan should not see the threat as normal just because it has existed for a long time, the top mainland policy planner said.
To hold a referendum to express the majority opinion is a normal practice in a democracy, Tsai went on, adding that Chen intends to hold the referendum without violating his "four noes plus one" promise made in his inaugural speech May 20, 2000.
Chen said in the speech that as long as Beijing does not use military force against Taiwan, he will not declare independence, will not change the national title, will not include the so-called "state-to-state" description in the Constitution, will not promote a referendum to change the status quo in regard to the question of independence or unification and will not abolish the National Reunification Council.
It would be useful if the people of Taiwan were to express their opinion of Beijing's missile threat to the world through a referendum, Tsai claimed.
The MAC head also urged Beijing to negotiate with Taiwan on cross-strait charter flight services for the Chinese New Year holiday.
(By Huang Kwang-chun)
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