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President rules out martial law, deferment of election

ROC Central News Agency

2007-12-11 10:05:24

    Taipei, Dec. 11 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian has said he will not use anything as an excuse for imposing martial law.

    There will also be no question of deferring the two critical elections scheduled for early next year, Chen noted, adding that the Jan. 12 legislative elections and the March 22 presidential election will take place as originally slated.

    Chen made the remarks Monday in an interview with the Associated Press (AP) . He gave the interview after meeting with visiting American Institute in Taiwan Chairman Raymond Burghardt, who is the top U.S. liaison officer with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

    During the interview, AP reporters asked Chen whether he is likely to declare Taiwan independence before he retires next May to force China to respond before the Beijing Olympic Games.

    In reply, Chen said some people in Beijing claim he will do something unexpected during the election season, including declaring independence. "This is completely not the case, " Chen said, adding that such rhetoric is just an intimidation from China and an excuse by China to pressure the United States to speak against him.

    Rebutting China's accusation, Chen said he has assured Burghardt that Taiwan will not backpedal and that he will by no means impose martial law or defer the legislative and presidential elections.

    Touching on the planned referendum on the country's bid to join the United Nations under the name Taiwan, Chen reiterated that as the referendum initiative has been proposed by grassroots civic groups, he is unlikely to overrule or veto it. Moreover, he said the referendum is neither a referendum on Taiwan independence nor a step toward de jure independence.

    On U.S. concern about the ramifications or impact of the U.N. bid referendum, Chen said he treasures U.S. opinions and is more than willing to communicate frankly with U.S. authorities over the issue.

(By Sofia Wu)

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