U.N.-bid referendum won't alter cross-strait status quo: MOFA
ROC Central News Agency
2007-12-04 17:29:41
Taipei, Dec. 4 (CNA) A referendum to be held next March as part of the government's efforts to promote the country's quest for U.N. membership will not change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait or Taiwan's status, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a press statement released Monday.
The press statement came in the wake of a joint statement issued at a summit held in Beijing Nov. 28 by the European Union and China opposing Taiwan's planned U.N.-bid referendum.
Noting that the EU's comments on the Taiwan issue in the statement did not reflect the facts, the MOFA said that the EU does
not fully realize the Taiwan government's many years of efforts in helping its people exercise their democratic rights and that Taiwan understands that the EU may have made the remarks due to pressure from China.
Taiwan will hold the referendum in a peaceful and democratic manner, and the referendum will not constitute any change to Taiwan's status, the ministry said in the press release.
The ministry further said that holding the referendum will not affect the security and stability of Taiwan's neighboring countries in the region.
As an independent, sovereign country, Taiwan is not a part of China, and any issues related to the status of Taiwan must be decided by the 23 million people of Taiwan, the ministry said.
Stressing that the U.N. membership bid is the common wish of political parties across the spectrum in Taiwan, the ministry said that the bid also reflects the determination of the Taiwanese people to take part in the international community.
The people of Taiwan hope to use the referendum -- a democratic process -- to demonstrate their collective will to enter the world body, the ministry said.
In contrast, the Chinese government enacted an "anti-secession law" in March 2005, which provides a legal basis for Beijing to resort to the use of force against Taiwan if it declares independence, the ministry noted.
In addition, Beijing has deployed approximately 1,000 missiles targeting Taiwan, threatening the Taiwanese people's basic rights and security, it said, describing such moves as "unacceptable to democratic countries."
Taiwan's government understands that the EU made remarks unfavorable to Taiwan as a concession to China, the ministry said.
Nevertheless, the government hopes that the EU can adopt practical, rational, and cautious attitudes to examine China's untransparent military expansion, poor human rights record, as well as its counterfeit and substandard products exported worldwide.
The EU should also pay heed to imbalances in China's trade with other countries and its undervalued currency, as well as China's excessive energy use and ignorance of environmental issues, the ministry said, noting that all of these will be detrimental to the global economy and regional peace and stability.
The Taiwan government's promotion of the U.N. referendum is a demonstration of democracy, the ministry said, adding that European countries often hold referendums to allow their citizens exercise their power.
If it continues to adopt double standards in its treatment of Taiwan, the EU will hurt the feelings of the Taiwanese people, the ministry said.
Furthermore, adopting double standards will not be beneficial to cross-strait negotiations and dialogue or to efforts to establish mutual trust in the future, the ministry said, adding that on the contrary, it may harm the EU's interests in Asia.
Taiwan's government will continue to communicate with the EU, the ministry said, adding that it hopes that while working to develop relations with China, the EU will not easily make economic and political concessions to Beijing and thus sacrifice Taiwan's national interests and its relations with Taiwan.
(By T.C. Jiang)
ENDITEM/Li
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