DPP, KMT at loggerheads over US policy on holding any national referendums

"Both the KMT and the PFP have long harbored anti-US sentiment as shown by their opposition to the US-led war on Iraq."

--DPP legislative caucus whip Chen Chi-mai

The DPP and KMT legislature caucuses traded barbs yesterday, accusing each other of disclosing information regarding the US' stance on referendums in Taiwan.

Chinese-language reported on Saturday that, in a meeting with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), American Institute in Taiwan Director (AIT) Douglas Paal expressed opposition to the idea of Taiwan holding plebiscites on domestic issues.

DPP caucus whip Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) yesterday said it was the KMT and the PFP who had spread rumors of America's disapproval in a bid to sow discord between the administration and the US.

"The relationship between Taiwan and the US has deteriorated since the DPP took office," Chen said. "On the other hand, both the KMT and the PFP have long harbored anti-US sentiment, as shown by their opposition to the US-led war on Iraq."

Given pan-blue camp's long-term opposition to creating a referendum law, Chen said, it is understandable that the PFP and KMT would take the opportunity to spread the rumors in a bid to "to graft one twig onto another" and make it look as if the US is against Taiwan holding referendums.

However, KMT legislative caucus leader Lee Chia-chin (李嘉進)blamed the DPP for passing on the information to the press. According to Lee, the DPP did so to stop former DPP chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) from continuing his persistent calls for a referendum.

Lin, who heads an anti-nuclear campaign, has been pushing the administration to hold a national plebiscite on the future of the controversial Fourth Nuclear Power Plant before the next presidential election. President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) pledged last month to hold two referendums -- on Taiwan's entry into the World Health Organization and whether construction at the plant should continue -- coinciding with the presidential election on March 18.

Stressing KMT's stance opposing the use of referendums as a means to changing the country's status quo, Lee called on Chen to promise that a referendum would not be used to promote Taiwanese independence.

However, Lee added that the KMT would support the Initiation and Recall Law (創制複決法) which sidesteps controversial issues dealing with independence and unification, national security and military affairs.

Taking similar stance, PFP legislative whip Chung Shao-ho (鍾紹和) said his caucus would support an amendment to the proposed law, but not the proposed referendum law (公投法).

"The PFP legislative caucus would not support a referendum law because it would encompass too broad a scope that could easily and ignite controversy over the issue of independence and unification," Chung said.

Meanwhile, Minister without Portfolio Hsu Chih-hsiung (許志雄), said the US' reported opinion on the referendum issue would not affect the Cabinet's progress in assessing the feasibility of a referendum.

Hsu, commissioned by Premier Yu Shyi-kun to lead a feasibility study on holding a referendum on certain issues, added that the study would be completed shortly.

In related news, Chinese-language media reported that Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新) said yesterday that Paal had twice conveyed to him earlier this month Washington's "strong concern" about the government's stance on holding referendums.