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STATUS QUO UNCHANGED BY DECISION TO CEASE NUC FUNCTION: PRESIDENT

ROC Central News Agency

2006-02-27 20:20:13

    Taipei, Feb. 27 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Monday his decision to cease the operation of the National Unification Council (NUC) would not change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

    What is important is the Taiwanese people's freedom of choice, he said. Based on this precept, he said he would not rule out any possible form of future development in cross-strait relations, although he insisted that no one would lay out certain choices or "an ultimate goal" for the people of Taiwan.

    Chen accused China of trying to change the status quo in the Strait by ratcheting up its military threat against Taiwan and passing an "Anti-Secession Law," which gives Beijing the power to use "non-peaceful means" to settle its differences with Taiwan.

    He said he made the decision to cease the NUC's operation -- whereupon the National Unification Guidelines would also cease to apply -- in order to safeguard the people's freedom of choice and to maintain his version of the status quo -- "freedom, democracy, human rights and peace across the Strait."

    At an extraordinary National Security Council (NSC) meeting, the president thanked United States President George W. Bush for his 2005 address in Kyoto, Japan, in which Bush praised Taiwan's democratic and economic achievements and said the U.S. treasured its partnership with Taiwan.

    Chen appreciated learning that the U.S. looks forward to continued cooperation with Taiwan on issues of mutual interest.

    He stated that Taiwan does not intend to change the status quo and opposes any attempts to use non-peaceful means to do so. He showed his gratitude to the international community for its efforts in helping maintain the status quo in the Strait.

    He called on China to enter into dialogue with Taiwan's government in an effort to build a mechanism for interaction and exchanges, through which trust could be increased, differences settled and problems solved.

    A mechanism for government-to-government talks would serve the greatest interest of people on both sides of the Strait and promote a normalization of cross-strait ties, he said.

    As the people of Taiwan have the right -- as well as the obligation -- to attend international activities, and are willing to make a contribution in the world, Chen said China's heavy-handed oppression of Taiwan's international space not only flies in the face of universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights but also hurts the feelings of people on both sides of the Strait, and "does not at all help a stable development of cross-strait ties."

    In order to stop a tilt in the military balance toward Beijing's favor, Chen said Taiwan would take proactive measures to boost its determination and ability to defend itself.

    Taiwan must boost its defense so that its status quo of freedom, democracy and peace will not be changed unilaterally, he noted.

    After doing away with the NUG, which he pledged not to change as part of his "four noes plus one" commitment, Chen said he will continue to push for his "constitutional reengineering" project in accordance with existing constitutional procedures.

    Any changes to the Constitution must win three-quarters of votes in the legislature and a "yes" from half of eligible voters in a referendum.

    Any proposed constitutional amendment that fails to pass through constitutional procedures and does not help maintain Taiwan's status quo will simply not be handled, he said.

(By S.C. Chang)

ENDITEM/diG