Christensen slams DPP referendum plan

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

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