The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will spare no effort in rallying support for its referendum on Taiwan's UN bid and will not boycott the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) version, DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (
Urging the public to support both referendums, Hsieh, who is also the party's candidate for the presidency, said at the closing of the party's Central Standing Committee meeting in Kaohsiung yesterday afternoon that Taiwan would suffer if neither referendum passed the required threshold.
The DPP's UN referendum calls for Taiwan to join the international body under the name "Taiwan," while the KMT version calls for a "return" to the UN under the name "Republic of China" or any name that upholds that nation's dignity.
Central Election Commission regulations stipulate that if a plebiscite's results are invalid, the question cannot be put to a vote again for at least three years. Half of all eligible voters must cast votes for the results to be valid.
Some observers are concerned that failure to pass either of the two UN referendums would send a message to the international community that Taiwanese are indifferent to obtaining a seat at the world body.
Hsieh said the country must avoid such a scenario becoming reality.
KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday praised the DPP's move not to boycott the KMT's UN referendum, but urged the DPP to drop its own.
Ma said the DPP's referendum would marginalize the nation and reduce its diplomatic space, as the US, Japan and other countries have opposed it.
"On the other hand, the KMT's proposal for the country to rejoin the UN under a flexible title is the correct strategy for Taiwan to successfully enter the UN," Ma said yesterday after visiting Asustek Computer Inc.
In response to Hsieh's suggestion that the two parties discuss the referendums, KMT spokesman Huang Yu-cheng (黃玉振) said yesterday that it was unnecessary to hold negotiations, as both parties were firm on their stances.
The two parties should focus their efforts on developing better policies ahead of the upcoming presidential election, Huang said.
Huang said the party was not opposed to referendums, but was against referendums being held concurrently with elections.
KMT caucus whip Lin Yi-shih (
However, Lin said the KMT would not budge in its opposition to holding referendums in conjunction with elections and urged the DPP to do the same.
When asked whether the KMT would boycott the referendums -- as it did the two referendums held in conjunction with the legislative elections -- Lin said the party had not reached a decision.
When approached by reporters, KMT Legislator Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) said the DPP should have expressed its support for the KMT's UN referendum earlier.
He said it would be more meaningful if the DPP agreed to hold the referendums on a date separate from the presidential poll to avoid "unnecessary trouble."
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