President Chen Shui-bian (
Chirac on Monday described Taiwan's referendum as a "grave error" during a state banquet in honor of Chinese President Hu Jintao's (
The French president said Taiwan's referendum was a unilateral destabilizing initiative that would disturb the status quo. "It would be a grave error. It would carry a heavy responsibility," Chirac said at the banquet.
Taiwan immediately lodged a complaint with the French government about Chirac's remarks.
"The referendum mechanism has been used in France since 1791 as a part of the nation's democracy. Nine referendums were held during the Fifth Republic period, and four under president Charles de Gaulle," Chen said at a reception at the Presidential Office for Fernando Sanchez-Arias, world president of the Junior Chamber International, an international federation for young leaders and entrepreneurs.
"Even President Chirac himself has carried out a national referendum in 2000 to decide whether to adjust the length of the presidential term," Chen said.
"It was incomprehensible to me that the head of state of such a nation, with a 213-year history of practicing referendums, could dare to interfere in another nation's domestic affairs," he said.
Chen told Sanchez-Arias that the referendum was a necessary step on Taiwan's path toward a democratic system, which will be the most important mechanism to ensure Taiwan's security and the welfare of the country's future generations.
Chen said that Taiwan's economy has taken a turn for the better, and that various infrastructure construction projects have been initiated, which means that the worst is over and the best times are yet to come.
The reform process could not be stopped halfway, and no one could deprive Taiwan of its democracy, the president said.
"Taiwan's way to democracy is a way we cannot abandon. We have to insist on the correct way and keep walking. It's a road of no return, and a milestone for Tai-wan's deep-rooting of democracy," Chen said.
"Taiwanese people have a right to a referendum. Only by believing that no one can govern or betray us can Taiwan avoid becoming a local government of another country, changing the status quo unilaterally, and sending our children to the battlefield," Chen said.
He also denied Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou's (
"When I was still a legislator, I debated the direct election issue with Ma, who was then the minster of justice. It was later proved that we stood on the correct side of history, and this is still the mainstream public opinion," Chen said.
The president has toned down the wording of the questions in the referendum, which is slated to be held along with the March 20 presidential election. Instead of being asked whether they want China to remove the 496 ballistic missiles targeted at Taiwan, voters will be asked whether they approve of Taiwan's defensive capabilities being upgraded against a possible Chinese military threat. Citizens will also be asked to vote on whether to negotiate for peaceful coexistence with China.
US President Donald Trump said "it’s up to" Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) what China does on Taiwan, but that he would be "very unhappy" with a change in the "status quo," the New York Times said in an interview published yesterday. Xi "considers it to be a part of China, and that’s up to him what he’s going to be doing," Trump told the newspaper on Wednesday. "But I’ve expressed to him that I would be very unhappy if he did that, and I don’t think he’ll do that," he added. "I hope he doesn’t do that." Trump made the comments in
NOT AN OPENING: Trump’s violation of international law does not affect China’s consideration in attacking Taiwan; Beijing lacks capability, not precedent, an official said Taiwanese officials see the US’ capture of the president of Venezuela as a powerful deterrent to Beijing’s aggression and a timely reminder of the US’ ability to defeat militaries equipped with Chinese-made weapons. The strikes that toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signaled to authoritarian leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), US President Donald Trump’s willingness to use military might for international affairs core to US interests, one senior official in Taipei’s security circle said. That reassured Taiwan, the person said. Taipei has also dismissed the idea that Trump’s apparent violation of international law could embolden Beijing, said the official, who was not
A cold surge advisory was today issued for 18 cities and counties across Taiwan, with temperatures of below 10°C forecast during the day and into tonight, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. New Taipei City, Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu, Miaoli and Yilan counties are expected to experience sustained temperatures of 10°C or lower, the CWA said. Temperatures are likely to temporarily drop below 10°C in most other areas, except Taitung, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, CWA data showed. The cold weather is being caused by a strong continental cold air mass, combined with radiative cooling, a process in which heat escapes from
Snow this morning fell on Alishan for the first time in seven years, as a strong continental cold air mass sent temperatures plunging across Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The Alishan weather station, located at an elevation of about 2,200m in central Taiwan, recorded snowfall from 8:55am to 9:15am, when the temperature dropped to about 1°C, the CWA said. With increased moisture and low temperatures in the high-altitude Alishan area, the conditions were favorable for snow, CWA forecaster Tsai Yi-chi (蔡伊其) said. The last time snow fell at the Alishan weather station was on Jan. 10, 2018, while graupel fell there
RSS