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MOFA dismisses Aussie concerns

"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."

Stephen Smith, Australian foreign minister

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 (葉非比) said, stressing that the referendums would not alter the cross-strait status quo or pose any threat to regional stability.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said at a press conference in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi (楊潔篪), yesterday morning that Taiwan's holding of a referendum on joining the UN was "completely inappropriate" and "unhelpful."

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 (謝長廷) wins over the KMT's Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), the new president would have little wiggle room to exercise his power thanks to a pan-blue-dominated legislature.

Andy Chang (張五岳), a Chinese studies professor at Tamkang University, said in a forum on Friday that in the past few months, Beijing had stayed relatively quiet on the issue, fearing that harsh criticism of the referendum bids would result in a public backlash and rally up votes for the DPP.

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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