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U.N. referendum 'rejection of unification': president

ROC Central News Agency

2008-01-02 19:49:23

    Taipei, Jan. 2 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian has said the upcoming referendum on the country's bid to join the United Nations under the name Taiwan is aimed at rejecting unification with China rather than moving toward de facto Taiwan independence.

    Chen made the remarks in a recent interview with France 24, a 24-hour news network in French and English, according to a press release issued by the Presidential Office Wednesday.

    Chen said in the interview that the U.N.-bid referendum -- to be held in tandem with March 22 presidential election -- is designed to show that Taiwan does not understand or accept China's claims that Taiwan is a part of China and that Taiwan has no right to enter the world body.

    The referendum will be used to appeal to the world, Chen said, describing it as the practice of freedom of speech.

    The United States and European countries should not oppose the U.N.-membership referendum and should respect the free will and the choice of Taiwan's people if they cannot officially support the referendum, Chen went on.

    Asked about Chinese President Hu Jintao's recent call for the signing of a peace agreement between Taiwan and China, Chen pointed out that the peace agreement carries the precondition of Beijing's "one China" policy.

    Under this precondition, Taiwan would be forced to give up its sovereignty before engaging in cross-strait peace talks, he said.

    He added that the people of Taiwan will not accept such an agreement, as it is aimed at annexing Taiwan and unifying it with China.

    On the drafting of a cross-strait peaceful co-existence law recently proposed by Robert Tsao, former chairman of United Microelectronics Corp., Chen said the proposal opposes a referendum on Taiwan independence but supports one on unification with China.

    In addition, according to the proposal, the unification referendum could be held many times until it is passed, Chen went on.

    Such a referendum, he said, actually opposes independence and promotes unification in the name of peace, which he said is unacceptable to a majority of the people in Taiwan.

    Chen said cross-strait negotiations should be held on an equal footing and that Beijing should not treat the Taiwan government as a local government.

    Speaking on the impact of the U.N. referendum on U.S.-Taiwan relations, Chen described the U.S. as Taiwan's closest ally and the country's best friend, adding that both sides will nevertheless disagree on certain issues.

    Chen said Taiwan will continue to have dialogue with the U.S. to gain its understanding and respect on the issue of the country's U.N. referendum plan.

(By T.C. Jiang)

ENDITEM/J