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Christensen slams DPP referendum plan

"The strong foundation [of relations] is being demonstrated this week in Taiwan's democracy ... we're looking forward to another free and fair election, and we're looking forward to working with the Taiwan people, and we look forward to a new leadership there, whoever the Taiwan people choose."

Thomas Christensen, US Assistant Deputy of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

A top US State Department official, taking a last-minute swipe at Saturday's planned referendum on UN entry under the name "Taiwan," on Tuesday called the plebiscite alternately "pointless and destabilizing," "unnecessary and unhelpful" and "not a positive policy initiative."

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Thomas Christensen made the comments during testimony at a hearing of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on Capitol Hill and in subsequent remarks to Taiwanese media.

His comments were the latest in a string of anti-referendum statements by US officials, including such comments by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her deputy, John Negroponte, during recent visits to Beijing.

Asked why the Bush administration has continued to oppose the referendum proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party, Christensen's comments underscored Washington's relentless efforts to convince Taiwanese voters to reject the proposal.

"We just oppose the referendum and we state our position very clearly. We think we owe it as a friend of the Taiwan [sic] people to make our position on these things extremely clear. We've done that repeatedly. And it's up to the Taiwan people to decide what they want to do with that information," Christensen said.

On the election itself, he expressed the hope that US-Taiwan relations would improve, regardless of which candidate is elected on Saturday.

Describing the relationship as "very strong," he said. "I look forward to whatever leadership is chosen by the Taiwan people and working through our unofficial relations with Taiwan to strengthen overall US-Taiwan ties."

"The strong foundation [of relations] is being demonstrated this week in Taiwan's democracy ... we're looking forward to another free and fair election, and we're looking forward to working with the Taiwan people, and we look forward to a new leadership there, whoever the Taiwan people choose," he said.

"I think US-Taiwan relations will continue to be very strong," he said.

In his written testimony to the commission, Christensen complained about the continuing increase in Chinese military forces facing Taiwan and the lack of transparency about China's military intentions.

"We are very concerned with the mainland's [sic] ongoing military build-up and deployment of advanced coercive capability on its side of the Taiwan Strait," he said.

"Although there has been less overt saber-rattling in the last few years, now there are a lot more sabers," Christensen said, in seeming reference to the more than 1,000 missiles China is aiming at Taiwan.

"[The] mainland's efforts to squeeze Taiwan's diplomatic space causes us concern, and we are frank in urging Beijing to be more flexible in its approach to Taiwan and to reach out to Taiwan's elected leaders," he said.

"Both sides understand the US expectation that any cross-strait differences be settled peacefully and in a manner that is acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait," he said.

Saturday's presidential election "provides the mainland with the opportunity -- and we urge the mainland to seize that opportunity -- to stabilize and improve relations across the Taiwan Strait," he said without giving details.

The hearing before the commission, a blue-ribbon panel of experts set up by Congress in 2000 to provide annual reports on China's security and economic situation and relations with the US, dealt with China's expanded global influence and discussed Beijing's "foreign policy goals, practices and tools."

Meanwhile, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday urged the public to support the DPP's referendum proposal to show support for Tibetans' protests against the Chinese government.

"There is nothing more important and serious than this a the presidential election is only a few days away," he said. "Joining the UN under the name `Taiwan' is the best way to show our support for Tibet."

After Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) condemned the DPP's referendum proposal on Tuesday as an attempt to change the "status quo," Chen said he was worried that Beijing would intensify its propaganda to the effect that Taiwanese do not care about UN membership, that they tacitly agree that Taiwan is part of China and that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China.

Voters will also be able to vote on a referendum initiated by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) on rejoining the UN using the name the Republic of China (ROC), or any other "practical" title.

Additional reporting by Ko Shu-ling

Also See: EDITORIAL: It's use it or lose it on Saturday
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