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TAIWAN'S U.N. BID AIMED AT PROTECTING STATUS QUO: PRESIDENT

ROC Central News Agency

2007-06-22 18:44:00

    Taipei, June 22 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian reaffirmed Friday the country's plans to apply for U.N. membership under the name of "Taiwan" and to push for a referendum on the bid, in spite of opposition by the United States.

    Addressing the issue during an informal gathering with the media at Yilan County's Fushan Research Station under the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Chen claimed that the U.N. bid does not violate his commitment to the United States but is aimed at protecting the status quo of Taiwan and the basic human rights of the Taiwanese people.

    According to Chen, Taiwan has been barred from the World Health Organization (WHO) mainly because it is not a member of the United Nations, and the situation is becoming "increasingly unfavorable to Taiwan" in light of China's on-going attempts to downgrade Taiwan's status internationally.

    As a sovereign state, Taiwan is entitled to appropriate representation in the United Nations, according to Chen. "We must let the whole world hear the desire and determination of the country's people to safeguard Taiwan's status as a sovereign state," Chen said. "We must use the name of `Taiwan' to apply to enter the United Nations to protect the status quo from being changed or damaged, " he added.

    The fact that opposition Kuomintang presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou has expressed his support for Taiwan's inclusion in the world body indicates that there is a national and cross-partisan consensus on the issue, Chen said. "As to the areas where consensus is lacking, such as under what name the country should apply to the United Nations, they should be put to a public referendum to allow for the establishment of a common ground acceptable to the majority of people through debate and discussion," Chen said.

    Calling the introduction of a referendum system in Taiwan an important step to consolidate and deepen the country's democratic development, Chen said democracy should not only provide people with franchise but also with the right to decide on major public issues.

    He said the proposal to hold a referendum on whether the country should apply to the United Nations under the name of "Taiwan" was initiated directly by the people, and that as president, he has an obligation to comply.

    Chen said he respects the different opinions that the United States have expressed over Taiwan's U.N. bid and referendum plan, adding that his administration will continue to communicate with Washington to try to sort out the differences.

    Chen noted that the first referendum that was held alongside the 2004 presidential election against China's missile threat against Taiwan had likewise sparked great concern in the United States and that he nevertheless resisted the U.S. pressure to make the referendum possible.

    Insisting that the government should "walk the right path and do the right thing" despite international pressure, Chen said he will use the final year of his presidential term to blaze a viable trail for the future president so that the new government "will not be afraid of China or the United States."

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

    In response to the move, officials at the U.S. State Department have reiterated that the United States does not support Taiwan's membership in international organizations that require statehood and that Washington "opposes any initiative that appears designed to change Taiwan's status unilaterally, " including a referendum on whether to apply to the United Nations under the name of "Taiwan."

    The officials urged Chen to "exercise leadership" by scrapping the planned referendum, which they said would appear to run counter to Chen's repeated commitments to U.S. President George W. Bush.

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

(By Y.F. Low)

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