President Chen Shui-bian (
"There shouldn't be a red line drawn for Taiwan's democracy," Chen said. "[The fact that there] is means] the 23 million people of Taiwan cannot enjoy full democracy like the people in the United States and other democracies."
If a red line must be drawn, Chen said it should be fixed and Taiwan would then be very careful not to cross it. But it is unfair for the people of Taiwan that somebody keeps moving the line, he said while receiving US Representative Virginia Foxx at the Presidential Office.
Chen said democracy is a basic human right and a universal value, and that referendums are part and parcel of democracy.
While the US has held numerous referendums, Taiwan did not enact the Referendum Law (公投法) until 2003, Chen said. The country's first national referendum was held in 2004, he added.
The Taiwanese right to hold referendums should not be denied, he said.
Chen said it baffled him that the US government supported the independence of Kosovo but was against Taiwan holding a referendum on joining the UN under the name "Taiwan."
During his meeting with former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton later yesterday, Chen said that the US draws one red line, while China draws another.
"It is not that Taiwan keeps stepping on the red line -- the US' red line keeps moving," said Chen, adding that the red line drawn by the US was moving closer to China's.
Chen said a majority of Taiwanese find it hard to accept China's claim to Taiwan. He added that neither the three communiques signed between the US and China, nor UN Resolution 2758 supported such a claim.
"China's military threat and diplomatic suppression of Taiwan are like a man holding a gun with one hand and taking us by the throat with the other, and then telling us not to breathe," he said.
To protect Taiwan and maintain the "status quo" in the Taiwan Strait, Chen said Taiwan had no choice but to hold a referendum on UN membership.
As the leader of the country, Chen said he did not have the right to call off the referendum because it was the will of the Taiwanese people and a resolution passed by the Democratic Progressive Party.
Bolton said it was more of a problem for the UN that Taiwan is not a member because it showed that the organization had not achieved its goal of universal membership.
On US opposition to Taiwan's UN referendum, Bolton said that he "did not think one democracy should tell another democracy not to act like a democracy."
Bolton also criticized UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for making a "very bad mistake" by dismissing Taiwan's UN application and said he hoped Ban would find a way to correct it.
Also see story:
Cabinet displays logo for Taiwan's UN bid
MISINFORMATION: The generated content tends to adopt China’s official stance, such as ‘Taiwan is currently governed by the Chinese central government,’ the NSB said Five China-developed artificial intelligence (AI) language models exhibit cybersecurity risks and content biases, an inspection conducted by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The five AI tools are: DeepSeek, Doubao (豆包), Yiyan (文心一言), Tongyi (通義千問) and Yuanbao (騰訊元寶), the bureau said, advising people to remain vigilant to protect personal data privacy and corporate business secrets. The NSB said it, in accordance with the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法), has reviewed international cybersecurity reports and intelligence, and coordinated with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to conduct an inspection of China-made AI language
BOOST IN CONFIDENCE: The sale sends a clear message of support for Taiwan and dispels rumors that US President Donald Trump ‘sold out’ the nation, an expert said The US government on Thursday announced a possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet parts, which was estimated to cost about US$330 million, in a move that an expert said “sends a clear message of support for Taiwan” amid fears that Washington might be wavering in its attitude toward Taipei. It was the first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The proposed package includes non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, as well repair and return support for the F-16, C-130 and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft,
CHECKING BOUNDARIES: China wants to disrupt solidarity among democracies and test their red lines, but it is instead pushing nations to become more united, an expert said The US Department of State on Friday expressed deep concern over a Chinese public security agency’s investigation into Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) for “secession.” “China’s actions threaten free speech and erode norms that have underpinned the cross-strait ‘status quo’ for decades,” a US Department of State spokesperson said. The Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau late last month listed Shen as “wanted” and launched an investigation into alleged “secession-related” criminal activities, including his founding of the Kuma Academy, a civil defense organization that prepares people for an invasion by China. The spokesperson said that the US was “deeply concerned” about the bureau investigating Shen
‘TROUBLEMAKER’: Most countries believe that it is China — rather than Taiwan — that is undermining regional peace and stability with its coercive tactics, the president said China should restrain itself and refrain from being a troublemaker that sabotages peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks after China Coast Guard vessels sailed into disputed waters off the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) in Taiwan — following a remark Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made regarding Taiwan. Takaichi during a parliamentary session on Nov. 7 said that a “Taiwan contingency” involving a Chinese naval blockade could qualify as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, and trigger Tokyo’s deployment of its military for defense. Asked about the escalating tensions
RSS