Taiwan's referendum on UN bid meant to defend status quo: Presiden

Anchorage, Alaska, Aug 28 (UNI) Instead of altering the political status quo across the Taiwan Strait, the referendum on Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations is meant to preserve and defend it, President Chen Shui-bian said here.

Chen, who arrived here for a transit stop on his way back to Taiwan after a three-state visit to Central America, was quoted by an aide yesterday as making the remarks to Raymond Burghardt, Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, when the latter greeted Chen at the airport reports the Taiwanese central news agency (CNA).

Lee nan-yang, chief of the Public Affairs Department of the Presidential Office, quoted Chen as telling Burghardt that he disagreed with US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, who told a Hong Kong-based TV that Washington considers Chen's proposed referendum as an alteration in the status quo and a step towards a declaration of independence by Taiwan.

Lee quoted Chen as saying that the referendum initiated by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party was favored by 76 percent of Taiwanese people, and opposed by 11 percent; more than 74 percent of Taiwan's people believe Taiwan is an independent sovereign state, while 11 percent who think it is a part of China; and 85 percent of Taiwan's people believe its territory does not include the mainland, while 10 percent think the opposite.

Furthermore, the president told Burghardt that 69 percent of people in Taiwan believe they are Taiwanese not Chinese, that this represents the majority opinion in Taiwan, and Washington should be awake to it rather than attempting to suppress it.

A referendum on Taiwan's UN bid doesn't mean the country will obtain UN membership immediately, but it will help Taiwan's people rally behind the idea and let the world know of Taiwan's determination to enter the United Nations, Chen was quoted as saying.

Since most of Taiwan's people believe that Taiwan is already an independent sovereign state rather than a part of the People's Republic of China, there is no necessary to declare its independence, Chen was quoted in rebutting Negroponte's argument.

Although the referendum calls for the country's UN membership under the name of Taiwan it has nothing to do with changing the country's designation, Chen argued, citing the fact that Taiwan has joined different international groups under different names.

Chen noted that Taiwan operates under the name Chinese Taipei at the International Olympic Committee and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and the name of the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu in the World Trade Organization.

According to Lee, Burghardt asked Chen what Taiwan's next step would be after the UN bid referendum.

The president said the question should be answered by the 23 million people in Taiwan, and Washington is in no position to discourage Taiwan's people from pursuing the democracy America promotes around the world.

UNI