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OFFICIAL HAILS INTERNATIONAL CONCERN ABOUT REFERENDUM

2003-12-31 20:43:28

    Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) International concern about Taiwan's plan to hold a referendum has a positive effect on Taiwan as it offers opportunities for Taiwan to explain its stance, a senior Presidential Office said Wednesday.

    Speaking at a news conference, Joseph Wu, deputy secretary-general to the president, said Beijing has misled other countries into think that Taiwan's planned referendum could lead to change to its status quo or declaration of independence. "Beijing's pressure on other countries, including the United States and Japan, to force Taiwan to drop the referendum plan, has actually offered good opportunities for us to expound our stance in detail," Wu said.

     He confirmed that he had made a private visit to Japan earlier this month to brief Japanese politicians on Taiwan's referendum plan. "Japanese politicians were not aware of details of our referendum plan. I have assured them that the planned referendum is aimed at pushing Beijing to remove its hundreds of missiles pointed at Taiwan and has nothing to do with the sovereignty issue. I have told them that the referendum will not break President Chen Shui-bian's 'four noes' pledge," Wu said.

    After his explanations, Wu said, Japanese political figures generally thought the referendum plan is acceptable.

    President Chen has announced his determination to hold a referendum on the day of Taiwan's next presidential election on Match 20, 2004 to offer a venue for Taiwan people to voice their opposition to Beijing's missile deployment against their homeland. Beijing has dismissed the plan as a move to promote Taiwan independence and has pressured the United States, Japan and European countries to force Taiwan's to scrap the plan.

    Wu said Beijing's move has served to internationalize the cross-Taiwan Strait dispute. "Such a development may not necessarily be in Beijing's interest," Wu said, adding that the development may also not be a disservice to Taiwan.

    In fact, Wu said, Taiwan prefers to see the cross-strait issue become an international concern. "Given such a scenario, the international community will not just listen to Beijing's opinion. Taiwan will have equal opportunities to articulate its stance to the world," he added.

(By Sofia Wu)

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