Wed, Jan 28, 2004 page1

• Cabinet, MOFA say they regret Chirac's remarks

  • By Melody Chen / STAFF REPORTER
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  Cabinet Spokesman Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday expressed regret over French President Jacques Chirac's opposition to Taiwan's referendum agenda and reiterated that Taiwan will not flinch under China's suppression nor change its resolve to hold its first national referendum.

  "We feel sorry about President Chirac's remarks and call on the international community to respect our democratic development," Lin said. "I'd like to remind the French government not to forget about the efforts made by former French president Charles de Gaulle to push for direct democracy some 40 years ago. The campaign was criticized as a mutiny back then but was later proved to be a direct decision."

  Lin also lambasted China, who he said has shamelessly used monetary incentives to influence other countries' opinions, continuously attempted to interfere with this nation's domestic affairs, sway the upcoming presidential poll and suppress the nation's diplomatic space.

  "The crux of the problem lies in China and its opposition to the proposed `peace referendum' only proves that it's not only necessary but also urgent to hold the referendum," Lin said.

  "It may claim victory on the diplomatic front but its opposition to the `peace referendum' only shows its anti-democracy attitude," Lin said.

  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed "deep regrets" over Chirac's remarks concerning the referendum and protested China's pressuring other countries.

  Calling France "the oldest democracy in the world," ministry spokesman Richard Shih (石瑞琦) urged the international community to understand the spirit of Taiwan's referendum, due to be held on March 20 alongside the presidential election

  The ministry appealed to international society not to bow to China's pressure to make "anti-democracy and anti-peace statements," Shih said.

  Shih, noting France itself has held nine referendums on domestic and foreign issues since the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958, said France should have understood that referendum is a means to deepen democracy.

  The French revolution and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen in 1789 were crucial steps in the development of Western democracy, he said.

  "France's democratic tradition has long been revered by other countries ? France, viewing democracy as its fundamental belief and value, should understand that democracy has never been a factor to destabilize peace," Shih said.

  Before Hu's visit to Paris, the ministry realized Chirac was prepared to voice public opposition to Taiwan's referendum and it tried to dissuade the French government from doing so, according to Shih.

  He said Chiou Jong-nan (邱榮男), Taiwan's top representative in Paris, had been in intensive communications with the French government before Hu's visit.

  The ministry is still assessing the impact of Chirac's statement, Shih said, adding that China's attempt to gather "international pressure to influence Taiwan's presidential election" hurt the feelings of the Taiwanese people.

  Shih appealed to the international community to demand China show its sincerity about improving relations with Taiwan and maintain regional peace by dismantling its missiles and renouncing the use of force against Taiwan.

  Meanwhile, Lo Fu-chen (羅福全), representative of the Taipei Eco-nomic and Cultural Office in Japan, said Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has harmed Taiwan in its handling of the referendum issue.

  According to Lo, the Japanese ministry issued two different explanations of Taiwan's referendum plan to its parliament and Japanese reporters based in Taipei.

  The Japanese foreign ministry then issued a third version explaining its stance on the referendum while communicating with the Presidential Office over the issue, Lo said.

  In presenting the version to the Japanese Diet, the ministry stated it had told Beijing that it hoped the "Taiwan problem" can be solved through peaceful means and that it opposes the use of force against Taiwan, Lo said.

  However, in explaining its stance on the referendum to the Presidential Office, the ministry deliberately omitted its opposition to China's use of force against Taiwan.

  Lo described the omission as an "incorrect and dishonest" act.

  Shih said Lo had revealed the Japanese ministry's improper handling of the referendum issue in order to urge the Japanese government to adopt a neutral attitude toward the issue.

  "Lo did not mean to criticize the Japanese government," Shih said.

  Additional reporting by Ko Shu-ling(STAFF REPORTER)
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