President Chen Shui-bian (
"The international community is concerned what step Taiwan will take after the UN referendum. Please don't worry. We just want to make our voice heard around the world -- that Taiwan wants to join the UN using the name `Taiwan,'" Chen said.
He made the comments in response to remarks by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs Thomas Christensen.
During a press briefing with Taiwanese media in the US capital on Thursday, Christensen, when asked to comment on the UN referendum, including Chen's statement that US opposition to the referendum could trigger an emotional backlash in Taiwan and affect bilateral relations, said that Washington had an obligation to let Taiwanese clearly understand its position on the issue.
Stressing that the US honors democracy and has no intention of dictating what Taiwan should or should not do, Christensen said the US respects the wisdom of Taiwanese and believes they will choose a policy that is favorable to the nation as well as cross-strait peace and stability through a democratic process.
Christensen said both Taiwan and China should avoid taking any "needlessly provocative actions" to avoid escalating tension and that the referendum was an example of such an action.
The US is opposed to any unilateral action by either side to change the cross-strait status quo, and the UN bid referendum is obviously designed to seek changes to the status quo, he said.
Christensen said the proposed referendum was inconsistent with Chen's promise that he would not change Taiwan's official name during his term of office.
By implying that the referendum will give Taiwanese a chance to express their opinion on whether Taiwan should unify with China, Chen is also going against his pledge that he will not promote a referendum on the unification versus independence issue during his term, he said.
Calling the referendum initiated by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) "unwise," Christensen said it was not only dangerous and provocative, but would also scare away potential friends who might help Taiwan, including the US.
On Chen's claim that the referendum might prompt the US to change its "one China" policy if it were passed, Christensen said the US government had no plans to alter its decades-long policy because it had proven helpful in maintaining cross-strait peace and is favorable to Taiwan.
Chen yesterday said he appreciated and took the US' concern seriously.
"Four years ago, referendums were taboo in the country. I was also under a lot of pressure. But now, even the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] does not oppose holding a referendum in tandem with an election. This is progress," Chen said.
The proposed UN referendum is a reflection of the major opinions in the country, Chen said, adding that he would continue to communicate with the US on the issue.
Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (
Lin said Taiwan would not back away from the UN referendum bid because the nation would never change its commitment to democratic progress.
The Mainland Affairs Council also condemned China for asking US and European leaders to oppose the referendum.
"This crude method of China using international politics to seek recognition for its `one-China' principle internationally and put pressure on Taiwan will only add to regional tension," the council said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that US-Taiwan relations would not be affected as the issue stemmed from "different understandings" of the UN referendum issue.
In his briefing on Thursday, Christensen also said that the US would continue to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons based on the Taiwan Relations Act as well as Taiwan's long-term military defense needs.
Despite Chinese discontent with US military sales to Taiwan, Washington will continue to carry out this policy in the belief that maintaining Taiwan's solid defensive capabilities is conducive to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he said.
He also urged the Beijing leadership to engage in dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected leaders.
China on Wednesday urged the US to stop selling advanced weapons to Taiwan.
The US Defense Department informed Congress last month about a possible sale to Taiwan of Patriot missile system upgrades valued at US$939 million.
"We hope the US side ... will stop selling advanced weapons to Taiwan, stop US-Taiwan official engagement and military contacts and cooperation," China's Xinhua news agency yesterday quoted Ma Xiaotian (馬曉天), an air force lieutenant-general, as telling US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte in Washington on Wednesday.
Weapons sales send the wrong signal, emboldening Taiwan to push for formal independence, Ma said.
Xinhua did not say whether a spat over China blocking the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier from docking in Hong Kong came up in the meeting between Ma and Negroponte.
The US has complained that China, at the last minute, blocked a Thanksgiving visit to Hong Kong by the Kitty Hawk and accompanying ships last month.
China later reversed its decision but Washington said it was too late.
The Pentagon also accused China of refusing to let two minesweepers shelter from a storm in Hong Kong last month.
LIMITS: While China increases military pressure on Taiwan and expands its use of cognitive warfare, it is unwilling to target tech supply chains, the report said US and Taiwan military officials have warned that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could implement a blockade within “a matter of hours” and need only “minimal conversion time” prior to an attack on Taiwan, a report released on Tuesday by the US Senate’s China Economic and Security Review Commission said. “While there is no indication that China is planning an imminent attack, the United States and its allies and partners can no longer assume that a Taiwan contingency is a distant possibility for which they would have ample time to prepare,” it said. The commission made the comments in its annual
DETERMINATION: Beijing’s actions toward Tokyo have drawn international attention, but would likely bolster regional coordination and defense networks, the report said Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration is likely to prioritize security reforms and deterrence in the face of recent “hybrid” threats from China, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said. The bureau made the assessment in a written report to the Legislative Yuan ahead of an oral report and questions-and-answers session at the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee tomorrow. The key points of Japan’s security reforms would be to reinforce security cooperation with the US, including enhancing defense deployment in the first island chain, pushing forward the integrated command and operations of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and US Forces Japan, as
INTERCEPTION: The 30km test ceiling shows that the CSIST is capable of producing missiles that could stop inbound missiles as they re-enter the atmosphere Recent missile tests by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) show that Taiwan’s missiles are capable of intercepting ballistic missiles as they re-enter the atmosphere and pose a significant deterrent to Chinese missile threats, former Hsiung Feng III missile development project chief engineer Chang Cheng (張誠) said yesterday. The military-affiliated institute has been conducting missile tests, believed to be related to Project Chiang Kung (強弓) at Pingtung County’s Jiupeng Military Base, with many tests deviating from past practices of setting restriction zones at “unlimited” and instead clearly stating a 30.48km range, Chang said. “Unlimited” restrictions zones for missile tests is
PUBLIC SAFETY: The nationwide distribution campaign aims to enhance society’s overall understanding of threats and bolster defense awareness, an official said The latest edition of the National Public Safety Guide is being mailed to all citizens starting today to foster public awareness of self-defense in the event of war or natural disasters, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. “The guides will be disseminated to the public to enhance society’s overall understanding of threats and bolster defense awareness, demonstrating the government’s emphasis on people’s safety and its determination to pursue self-defense,” All-out Defense Mobilization Agency Director Shen Wei-chih (沈威志) said at the ministry’s news conference. The nationwide distribution campaign was planned according to President Lai William’s (賴清德) Sept. 20 directive, he said, adding
RSS