Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

TAIWAN'S WHO BID 'HAS NOTHING TO DO' WITH 'FOUR NOES': PRESIDENT

ROC Central News Agency

2007-05-11 18:30:33

    Taipei, May 11 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Friday that Taiwan's bid to become a full member of the World Health Organization (WHO) "has nothing to do" with his "four noes" commitments to the United States.

    Chen pointed out that the "four noes" pledges are founded on the precondition that "China has no intention of using force against Taiwan, " but Beijing has so far refused to renounce its military threat against Taiwan and is increasing the number of missiles targeting Taiwan along its southeast coast.

    Chen said the "four noes" have not affected Taiwan's efforts to become a "normal country, " such as the enactment of the Referendum Law in 2003 to make possible the first national referendum held along with the March 2004 presidential election.

    Chen made the remarks in response to a question during a satellite video conference with international media representatives posted in Geneva, an event held to promote the country's application for WHO membership under the name "Taiwan" for the first time this year.

    In his 2000 and 2004 inauguration addresses, Chen pledged that if China has no intention of using force against Taiwan, he will not declare Taiwan independence, not change the official name of the country, not include the "state-to-state" concept on cross-strait relations in the Constitution, and not promote a referendum to change the cross-strait status quo.

(By Y.F. Low)

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