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Chen pleads Taiwan's case with European officials

In an unprecedented videoconference with members of the European Parliament, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday made a strong case for Taiwan's plight in view of China's proposed "anti-secession" law and its missile buildup along its southeast coast.

Chen also took the opportunity to urge EU members to support Taiwan's bid to join the World Health Organization (WHO).

Referring to the recent agreement on cross-strait charter flights during the Lunar New Year holiday, Chen said that "the event helped to open an opportunity for a ray of sunshine" in cross-strait relations.

"Yet it is regrettable that there is now a dark cloud overshadowing the atmosphere for reconciliation," Chen said, referring to China's proposed anti-secession law.

"China is planning to enact an anti-secession law in its upcoming National People's Congress meeting. This is a blatant and unilateral attempt to undermine cross-strait relations," Chen told his audience in Brussels, which included Graham Watson, chairman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, and George Jarzembowski, president of the Taiwan Council of the European Parliament.

Touching on issues concerning the nation's constitutional reform, Chen made a reference to his meeting with People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) last Thursday, during which a 10-point join consensus was signed.

The consensus, that included Chen's reiteration that he will not promote Taiwan's independence or change the country's official name during his term in office, had irked many pan-green supporters.

"I have to be honest with myself as well as with others," Chen said.

"During my term in office I can't change the nation's official name from Republic of China (ROC) to Republic of Taiwan. If I can't do it, I can't do it," Chen said. "Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) was unable to do so during his terms in office and I believe even if he was the incumbent president, he wouldn't be able do it either."

Aidan White, general-secretary of the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists, Willem van der Geest, director of the European Institute for Asian Studies, were among those taking part in the teleconference, which lasted about an hour and a half.

"While we will continue to extend the hand of friendship, we would like to send out a strong message that more than 83 percent of the people in Taiwan oppose the law," Chen said.

In addition to calling on EU members to support Taiwan's bid to join the WHO, Chen also urged the EU to apply more rigorous standards when considering the lifting of the arms embargo on China to maintain the military balance in the Asia-Pacific region.
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