The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed regret at Australia's objection to Taiwan holding referendums on joining the UN next month.
"[The right to hold a] referendum is a core value in a democracy. It is the will of Taiwanese people to be part of the UN," ministry spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh (
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said at a press conference in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi (
Smith told reporters that Canberra had adhered to the "one China" policy for the last 35 years and would continue to do so.
"We are very concerned to ensure that action is not taken in Taiwan or in the Taiwanese [sic] Strait which would cause concern or potential for disharmony in the strait itself," he said.
Australia joins a handful of countries, including the US, the UK, France and a number of Asian countries, that have publicly criticized Taiwan's plan to hold referendums on the nation's UN bid.
The referendums on joining the world body are scheduled to held in conjunction with the presidential election on March 22.
One version, backed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), calls for Taiwan to apply for UN entry using the name "Taiwan," while the other, initiated by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), proposes a return to the organization using the name "Republic of China," "Taiwan," or "any other practical or flexible title."
Some Taiwanese academics believe China is more concerned about the results of the two upcoming referendums than the presidential race because even if the DPP's Frank Hsieh (
Andy Chang (
Instead, Beijing has been using its allies to criticize the referendums, he said.
China on Saturday said that Taipei's decision to hold a referendum on joining the UN under the name "Taiwan" was a move toward formal independence and could threaten peace in the Asia Pacific region.
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