Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

PRESIDENT MEETS WITH NSC TO COPE WITH ANTI-SECESSION LAW

ROC Central News Agency

2005-03-08 22:15:28

    Taipei, March 8 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian has met with the National Security Council to cope with China's plan to enact an anti-secession law targeting Taiwan, Premier Frank Hsieh said Tuesday.

    Hsieh told lawmakers during a legislative interpellation session that the president will make a final decision as to what steps the government will adopt in reaction to the legislation.

    According to the key points of the draft law unveiled by the National People's Congress of China earlier in the day, the law will authorize the Beijing authorities to use non-peaceful means to check what they call "secessionist" activities on Taiwan.

    Hsieh said Chen will still follow his "five noes" commitment regarding national status after the passage of the law by China.

    The "five noes" refers to Chen's promise that if Beijing has no intention of using force against Taiwan, he will not declare independence, will not change the official name of the country, will not include the "state-to-state" theory in the Constitution, will not promote a referendum on independence or unification to change the cross-strait status quo and will not abolish the Guidelines for National Unification and the National Unification Council.

    Hsieh said the government will not make any pro-active moves to amend the Constitution to counter the anti-secession law, but said he supports efforts by the people to change the Constitution based on a national consensus.

    As to whether Taiwan and China will still remain in a state of peace after the enactment of the anti-secession law, Hsieh said the Cabinet will respect Chen's interpretation of the issue.

(By Y.F. Low)

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