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A referendum question

I've read all of your editorials on the upcoming referendum and the various scenarios should President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) win re-election, and your views on China's reaction to it.

I have also noted the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) alliance's strong resistance to the referendum, calling it illegal, among other things.

You say, quite rightly, that "if a majority of voters support the framework, both sides will have to shoulder the responsibility of international expectation for cross-strait peace," (Editorial, Feb. 07, page 8) but there is an obvious problem to this statement that you have not yet clarified.

This prompts the question, should the pan-blue camp win the election, what is to stop them from claiming that the referendum was illegal and as such they do not have to comply with the people's wishes?

Michael Wise
Tamshui

State of self-deception

It's understandable that Arthur Shih believes Taiwan is not in a state of emergency because he lives in New Zealand and need not worry about the consequences of any of the 500 or so ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan misfiring and landing on his doorstep (Letters, Feb. 5, page 8).

He suggests that the government should "silence all critics and send [the referendum] to the committee and have it certified" if the administration is so sure of its legality.

It seems to me that Shih either prefers a dictatorship or does not understand what democracy is.

Perhaps it's a timing issue? Would you consider Taiwan in a state of emergency the moment the Chinese military moves toward the launching pad, during countdown, at zero or when the missiles are in the air, Mr. Shih?

I'm all ears.

Lin Shao-huei
Arizona
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