President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen's remarks came in the wake of the US State Department's criticism of the referendum idea. On Tuesday, after Chen suggested that a referendum be held simultaneously with next year's presidential election, the State Department voiced its objection and urged Chen to drop the idea.
"A referendum is a basic human right guaranteed by the Constitution. It is not a beast that should be feared nor would it cause war or disaster," he said during a media gathering in Ilan.
"As the leader of the country, I need to let this basic human right to vote in a referendum take root in Taiwan," he said, adding that it was evident a UN bid was a national and cross-partisan consensus as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (
As to the areas where consensus is lacking such as under what name the country should apply for its UN bid, Chen said they should be put to a referendum.
"For the sake of Taiwan's future, I am willing to take the first step, no matter how difficult it is," he said. "That way, it will make things easier for the new president and government next year, knowing they need not fear others, be it the US or China."
The State Department criticized the referendum proposal, saying it "appears designed to change Taiwan's status unilaterally" and that it "would appear to run counter to President Chen's repeated commitments to President [George W.] Bush and the international community."
Chen argued otherwise, saying that the referendum would in fact help Taiwan maintain the "status quo."
"If the nation does not bid for UN membership under the name Taiwan, the cross-strait status quo cannot be ensured," he said.
"We need to let the world know the Taiwanese people's determination to uphold their sovereign right," he said. "If not, the status quo would be changed and damaged."
Observing the resolution passed unanimously by the legislature in support of Taiwan's WHO bid, as well as polls which showed that more than 90 percent of the public supported the bid, Chen said that placing public opinion first and allowing Taiwanese to exercise their sovereign rights were not tantamount to altering the "status quo" or violating the "four noes" pledges.
Chen said the administration would continue to communicate with Washington to enable the US to understand the importance of upholding democracy in Taiwan.
He said the reason Taiwan cannot be a WHO member boils down to not being a member of the UN.
Given China's continuous attempts to downgrade Taiwan's sovereignty, Chen called on Ma to stop supporting the so-called "1992 consensus."
The KMT insists the consensus refers to the idea of "one China" on each side of the Taiwan Strait, with both sides having their own interpretation.
"China only acknowledges `one China' and has never recognized the part that says `both sides of the Strait having their own interpretation,'" Chen said. "[The KMT] should stop deceiving itself."
"Taiwanese must wake up now. We cannot die waiting or head toward death not knowing," Chen said. "We must take the path that leads to life, and that is the collective voice of the people of Taiwan."
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