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KMT to hold referendum on UN bid

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) said yesterday it would push for a referendum on the country's bid to join the UN and other international organizations under a "practical" name and flexible strategy that would increase the nation's chances of being accepted in more international organizations.

The move is aimed at countering President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) plan for a referendum on the nation's bid to join the UN under the name "Taiwan," which the KMT described as a "fake proposal" for electoral purposes.

"The KMT's strategy of applying for UN membership by adopting a name that would increase the country's chances [of being admitted] while protecting the nation's dignity is more practical," KMT Secretary-General Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) told a press conference yesterday.

Arguing that the KMT has been supportive to Taiwan's UN bid, Wu lashed out at Chen and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for "playing a fake game" with its referendum proposal.

"The DPP's referendum proposal [can] only limit the country's international space ... We are using the right way ... with a practical proposal," he said.

KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) joined in his party's call yesterday for a more practical and flexible manner in which to apply for UN membership.

"The pan-blue and pan-green camps share the same goal of helping Taiwan re-enter the UN, but we should use a name that won't damage the trust of our allies," Ma said, while declining to comment on the name that should be used for the UN bid.

Ma said that Taiwan had joined the WTO under the name "The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu" and APEC under the name "Chinese Taipei." In light of these, he said, the government should be more flexible on the name issue.

The KMT's central standing committee is expected to pass the referendum proposal next Wednesday, whereupon it would start to rally for the proposal.

DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) expressed his support for Chen's planned referendum yesterday, adding that pushing Taiwan's participation at the UN had always been one of his concerns and not just an election ploy.

In response to the US State Department's criticism of Chen's proposed referendum, Hsieh, who is scheduled to visit the US next month, said he would communicate with US officials on the issue.

"Taiwan cherishes its friendship with the US, but we need to have more communication with [Washington] on Taiwan's positions," Hsieh said.

At a separate event yesterday, the president urged his opponents to stop politicizing his proposed referendum, saying that Taiwanese have the right to hold referendums as it is a fundamental human right.

Chen said his proposed referendum does not constitute an attempt to change the country's name, nor does it violate his "four noes" pledge.

The "four noes" refer to Chen's promise in 2000 that as long as China does not use military force against Taiwan, he would not declare independence, not change the national title, not enshrine the "state-to-state" model in the Constitution, nor endorse a referendum on formal independence.

Chen made the remarks while addressing a commencement ceremony organized by the Central Personnel Administration in Taipei yesterday morning.

Chen spent almost 30 minutes talking about Beijing's repression of Taiwan's efforts to participate in international activities.

Chen said China's suppression of Taiwan has never relented, no matter who was in power.

The missiles targeted at Taiwan and deployed along China's southeast coast have increased fivefold in the past seven years. China's defense spending has showed double-digit growth each year and has exceeded the needs of its self-defense, he said.

The world must heed China's military buildup and the military imbalance in the Taiwan Strait, he said.

He said China is bolstering its combat readiness in a three-stage preparation for war.

Beijing has set a goal of establishing contingency-response combat capabilities by the end of the year, building up its combat capabilities for large-scale military engagement by 2010 and ensuring victory in a decisive battle by 2015.
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