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U.S. REITERATES OPPOSITION TO TAIWAN'S PLAN TO HOLD U.N. REFERENDUM

ROC Central News Agency

2007-06-20 12:16:19

    Washington, June 19 (CNA) A U.S. State Department official reiterated Tuesday Washington's opposition to Taiwan's plan to hold a referendum on the country's bid to join the United Nations, warning that such a move would intensify tensions across the Taiwan Strait. "The United States opposes any initiative that appears designed to change Taiwan's status unilaterally. This would include a referendum on whether to apply to the United Nations under the name of 'Taiwan, '" said State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack when asked to comment on the issue during a daily press briefing. He was repeating a similar statement released by the department a day earlier. "While such a referendum would have no practical impact on Taiwan's U.N. status, it would increase tensions in the Taiwan Strait," McCormack added.

    McCormack stressed in line with its "one China" policy, the United States does not support Taiwan's membership in international organizations that require statehood, including the United Nations.

    He urged President Chen Shui-bian to exercise leadership by scrapping the planned referendum, saying the plan would appear to run counter to Chen's repeated commitments to U.S. President George W. Bush and the international community. "Maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is of vital interest to the people of Taiwan, and serves U.S. security interests as well," he said.

    Taiwan, which failed in its first attempt to gain membership to the World Health Organization under the name of "Taiwan" in May, is planning to use a similar model to apply for U.N. membership in September despite the prospect of failure.

    On Monday, President Chen unveiled his plan to push for a referendum on the U.N. bid alongside the 2008 presidential election to "make the world aware of Taiwan's 23 million people's desire to join the United Nations."

    Calling "Taiwan" the most "appropriate, " "powerful, " and "familiar" name for the country to take part in international organizations, Chen said applying to enter the United Nations under the name of "Taiwan" will not mean any changes of its national title, the Republic of China, or violate its "four noes" commitments to the United States.

    Chen pledged during his 2000 and 2004 inaugural addresses 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 Chiehyu Lin and Y.F. Low)

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