When approached by reporters before the party's Central Standing Committee meeting yesterday, DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun said the party would continue to push for a referendum.
"Democracy and freedom are the founding spirits of the US. No matter what the US State Department says, I believe the American people will support Taiwan holding a referendum to show the will of its people," he said.
The committee passed a resolution to continue campaigning for a referendum, DPP Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said.
Lin said a demonstration would be held ahead of the UN General Assembly in September to support Taiwan's participation under the name "Taiwan."
DPP caucus whip Wang Tuoh (王拓) said the caucus could not accept the US' "overbearing" comments on the referendum plan.
Wang said Taiwan's campaign to join the UN was not the reason for cross-strait tensions.
"China should be held responsible for heightening cross-strait tension because it targets Taiwan with more than 1,000 missiles. Why doesn't the US do anything about China?" he said.
"The US does not have the right to force Taiwan to deny that it is a nation," DPP Legislator Wang Shu-hui (
Additional reporting by Mo Yan-chih and Flora Wang
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