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President calls for demilitarized zone

President Chen Shui-bian, center, outlines plans for a demilitarized zone with China, at a press conference yesterday. Chen is accompanied by, from left to right, Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien, Presidential Office Secretary-General Chiou I-jen, National Security Council Secretary-General Kang Ning-hsiang and Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming. PHOTO: LIU HSIN-TEH, TAIPEI TIMES

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday called for the creation of a demilitarized zone and an exchange of envoys with China in a bid to win support for his referendum plan.

The Presidential Office formally sent the president's order to call a referendum to the Executive Yuan yesterday afternoon.

At a press conference yesterday morning, Chen said that, as the head of state, he has proposed a referendum on matters concerning national security in accordance with Article 17 of the Referendum Law (公民投票法), which was passed last November at the Legislative Yuan.

"To safeguard national sovereignty and defend national security is my solemn duty, as is my commitment to allow the people of Taiwan to be masters of their own land," Chen said.

Chen said China's military threats, including unilaterally denying Taiwan's sovereignty and increasing its deployment of ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan, satisfy the conditions for holding a referendum under Article 17.

He said the referendum, to be held on March 20 alongside the presidential election, will include two questions.

The first, Chen said, deals with strengthening national defense and will ask voters whether the government should acquire anti-missile systems should China refuse to withdraw its missiles.

The second question, Chen said, will ask voters whether they want the government to engage in negotiation with China on the establishment of a "a peace and stability" framework for cross-strait interaction.

Chen elaborated the elements of the framework, proposing "one principle and four major issues."

He said both sides can appoint a special envoy to initiate cross-strait negotiations on the framework after March 20.

According to Chen, the one principle is that both sides should first agree to resolve any dispute by peaceful means, commit to refrain from using force and not unilaterally change the status quo.

The first of Chen's four issues is the establishment of a negotiation mechanism, which includes the appointment of a special envoy under the direct authorization and instruction of the head of state, and that representative offices be established in Taipei and Beijing.

"The second is `exchanges based on equality and reciprocity,' which means establishing liaison offices and the provision of fair trials and legal protection for people of the other side," Chen said.

"[It also means] the mutual recognition of laws and judicial decisions, and provision of judicial assistance."

The third issue, Chen said, is the establishment of a political relationship, which should be based on mutual respect, be conducive to cross-strait interaction, include mutual recognition of jurisdiction and non-interference in each other's diplomatic affairs.

"The fourth, the prevention of military conflicts," he said, "is to establish a demilitarized zone, including removal of combat personnel, equipment and deployed missiles."

Asked by reporters how he can convince Beijing to accept the framework and whether the plan can ease concern in the international community, Chen said he is aware of the difficulty in getting a positive reaction from China, especially given that Beijing has never agreed with Taiwan's democratic movement.

"However, once the 23 million of people of Taiwan have displayed their will through the historic referendum," Chen said, "we believe the international community will ultimately approve of Taiwan's referendum and that Beijing will have to reconsider its stance to cope with Taiwan's collective will."

Chen said he would stick to promises made over the past four years, in particular the "five noes" issued in his inauguration speech.

"The peaceful status quo of the Taiwan Strait will not be changed in the next four years, and the administration will implement all reforms, including the rewriting of the Constitution, on the basis of maintaining the status quo," he said.

"A promise is a promise, there is no such thing as a new or an old one," Chen said. "I will not offer one script in 2000 and then another one in 2004."

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