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U.S. misinterprets U.N. bid referendum plan: FM

ROC Central News Agency

2007-08-28 18:15:10

    Managua City, Nicaragua, Aug. 27 (CNA) Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang voiced regret Monday that the United States has misinterpreted Taiwan's plan to hold a referendum on its U.N. bid as a step promoting Taiwan independence or changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

    Huang made the remarks in Managua City, capital of Nicaragua, where he is accompanying President Chen Shui-bian on a state visit to the Central American country, after Hong Kong-based Phoenix Star TV broadcast earlier the same day an exclusive interview with John Negroponte, U.S. deputy secretary of state, regarding the latest political developments in Taiwan. "So when we talk about the situation in regard to Taiwan, we talk about Taiwan in the context of a great friendship. But when it comes to this issue of a referendum as to whether or not Taiwan join the United Nations in the name of Taiwan, we do have great concerns, " Negroponte said. "We oppose the notion of that kind of a referendum because we see that as a step towards the declaration -- towards a declaration of independence of Taiwan, towards an alteration of the status quo," he added.

    In response, Huang said he could not figure out why Negroponte made such remarks. Holding a referendum is a purely domestic affair, a core value of democracy and the most democratic and peaceful way for the public to express its opinion, he said, adding that "both Taiwan's ruling and opposition camps are in favor of holding a referendum on Taiwan's U.N. cause."

    Stressing that holding such a referendum is only meant to allow the public to directly express its desire for the country to participate in the United Nations, Huang said the move will neither break the "four noes" pledges made by Chen in his 2000 and 2004 inauguration speeches nor contribute to a change in cross-strait status quo. "We regret the U.S. misinterpretation of our referendum plan, " Huang added.

    In the interview with Phoenix Star TV, Negroponte was also asked whether the United States will downgrade its economic or military cooperation with Taiwan if Taiwan continues to push for the referendum.

    Negroponte replied: "I wouldn't want to get into that kind of a hypothetical discussion at this particular time. But what I would like to emphasize is that we believe it's important to avoid any kind of provocative steps on the part of Taiwan."

(By K. H. Wen and Flor Wang)

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