Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Chen Ming-tong (
"I cannot predict what Beijing's reaction will be if the referendums pass because [China] is a totalitarian regime. It is not a regime that can be trusted. Look at what happened in Tibet," Chen said at a news conference at the Government Information Office.
He told foreign journalists, many of whom are in Taiwan to cover tomorrow's presidential election, that the referendums were a peaceful means of expressing the general will of Taiwanese for representation at the UN.
The Democratic Progressive Party has initiated a referendum on joining the UN using the name "Taiwan," while the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has proposed "rejoining" the world body using the country's official name -- the Republic of China -- or any other "practical" title.
Chen said the referendums were not intended to change the country's official title, declare independence or provoke China.
He said China's bloody crackdown on Tibetans would sway Taiwanese voters as the incident had reinforced public concerns about the Beijing regime.
Chen said the international community should treat China and Taiwan fairly and equally. He said Taiwan's democracy could serve as an example for China.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
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