Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

LEGISLATIVE YUAN URGES BEIJING TO RE-THINK ANTI-SECESSION LAW

ROC Central News Agency

2005-03-04 17:14:35

    Taipei, March 4 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan drafted a statement Friday urging China to re-think its proposed anti-secession law targeting Taiwan.

    The wording of the statement was moderate as it adopted mostly the versions of the opposition Kuomintang and the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union. Versions produced by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party -- which says that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are under separate rule -- and by the pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) , which states that "Taiwan is not part of China," were not included in the resolution.

    The statement is expected to be passed as a resolution in a full Legislative Yuan floor meeting next Tuesday at the earliest.

    The statement says that the Legislative Yuan is issuing a proposed resolution on behalf of the Taiwan people on the anti-secession law that will soon be reviewed and approved by the National People's Congress, Beijing's rubber-stamp parliament.

    The proposed resolution says that the Republic of China, since its founding in 1912, has been a "sovereign, independent county" and any move to unilaterally change the status quo or try to denigrate the sovereignty of the nation will run counter to the common will of the Taiwan people and the international community.

    The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait aspire for peaceful development, the resolution says, adding that if the proposed law of China violates the rights of the Taiwan people, it will incite vehement opposition from Taiwan.

    It also says that the cross-strait atmosphere has improved in the wake of the cross-strait charter flights during the Chinese New Year holiday and that the governments on both sides should cherish the opportunity to embark on consultation based on equality and dignity to create a situation that is beneficial for both sides.

    The political parties will also promote a China policy based on equality and reciprocity and do their best to promote cross-strait peaceful development, it says.

    The legislative caucuses of the ruling and the opposition parties said that this is a preliminary appeal and that they will respond further if Beijing goes ahead to enact the law.

(By Lilian Wu)

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