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.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
Taiwan successfully defended its women’s 540 kilogram title and won its first-ever men’s 640 kg title at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday. In the women’s event, Taiwan’s eight-person squad reached the final following a round-robin preliminary round and semifinals featuring teams from Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Basque Country and South Korea. In the finals, they swept the Basque team 2-0, giving the team composed mainly of National Taiwan Normal University students and graduates its second championship in a row, and its fourth in five years. Team captain
RSS