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KMT might introduce resolution on U.N. bid to solve disputes

ROC Central News Agency

2008-01-23 17:39:34

    Taipei, Jan. 23 (CNA) The main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) is considering inviting Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng to introduce a bill in the Legislative Yuan urging the government to apply for or regain U.N. membership under the name Republic of China, as a measure to solve the U.N. bid referendum disputes, a party official said Wednesday.

    The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that should the resolution be unanimously adopted by the newly elected legislature, it will reflect the public's willingness to join the United Nations so that it will therefore be unnecessary for the government to hold a U.N. bid referendum.

    After the Republic of China's U.N. seat was given to the People's Republic of China in line with Resolution 2758 adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 1971, the legislature adopted a resolution in 1993 pushing for the government to regain U.N. membership, the official pointed out.

    The official was responding to a newspaper report that ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh had held discussions with President Chen Shui-bian about a DPP-proposed referendum on the nation's bid to enter the U.N. under the name Taiwan that is scheduled to be held alongside the March 22 presidential election.

    As the DPP government believes that the planned referendum will have a great impact on Taiwan's international position no matter whether it passes or fails, Hsieh proposed that Chen invite leaders from across the political spectrum to hammer out "the most feasible project" to boost the chances of its passage, according to the report.

    In related news, meanwhile, KMT Chairman Wu Poh-shiung said his party is not against referendums but opposes holding them alongside major elections. He added that if the government is sincere in promoting the nation's U.N. bid, it could choose another referendum date.

    In addition to the DPP-proposed referendum, the KMT has also initiated another referendum on whether the country should regain U.N. membership under the name Republic of China or another appropriate name.

    It is widely believed that neither referendum, even if passed, will have much of an impact in the U.N. because China, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, can veto any attempt by Taiwan to join the world body.

    The DPP is considered to be in favor of holding the referendums alongside the election to boost support for its presidential candidate and increase the chances of success for the referendum, even though the referendums held alongside the legislative elections were a dismal failure, with only 25 percent of the electorate bothering to vote.

    Senior U.S. officials have voiced disapproval of the DPP-initiated referendum on a number of occasions, describing it as a provocation that will unnecessarily raise tension across the Taiwan Strait without benefiting Taiwan on the international stage.

(By Louis Huang)

ENDITEM/J