Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday urged the people of Taiwan to voice their loathing of China's missile threat and their love for peace by exercising their voting rights in the forthcoming referendum, stressing that the referendum is the most effective way to create a new constitution for Taiwan.
Lee made the remarks at a forum held by the think tank Taiwan Advocates in Kaohsiung yesterday. Since the beginning of the month, the organization has held two forums around the nation to preach the importance of the referendum and the need for creating a new constitution for Taiwan. The last forum will be held in Hualien on Saturday.
"A constitution guides a nation's direction of development in the long term," said Lee in his speech. "However, the existing Constitution was not made for Taiwan nor was designed by the people of Taiwan. It is not suitable for Taiwan at all and is full of contradictions," Lee said.
"Only by creating a new constitution can Taiwan be fundamentally transformed into a normal country," Lee said.
Lee urged people to show their resolution to set up a new constitution for Taiwan and denounce China's military menace by voting in the referendum and presidential election.
"Let's say `no' to China's threat of invasion and say `yes' to peace with our referendum ballots," Lee said.
"Also, say good-bye to those conservative and reactionary forces," he said.
With the subject "What is the range of the Republic of China's territory -- a probe into Taiwan's need for a new constitution from the perspective of a nation's orientation," yesterday's forum held at the Kaohsiung Girls High School attracted more than 1,500 Kaohsiung residents. Nine speakers delivered their views on the topic and earned warm applause from the audience. Constitutional expert Lee Hung-hsi (
One of the forum speakers, Cao Chang-ching (曹長青), a political commentator who is a New York-based Chinese dissident, said Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) remarks about Taiwan's national orientation during Saturday's televised presidential-candidate debate were "illogical" and "absurd."
Cao said that Lien defined the so-called "one China" as "the Republic of China" and said "that's where we live and grow up" during the debate.
"What Lien said is totally out of touch with reality," Cao said.
"Lien does not only deceive himself but also the people of Taiwan," he said.
Cao said it is illogical for Lien to suggest postponing the dispute over the country's sovereignty yet increase cultural exchanges between the two sides.
"Strangely enough, if the Republic of China is an independent country like Lien has been claiming, why should Taiwan postpone the dispute over its sovereignty? It is an argument that doesn't work," Cao said.
"Saying postponing the dispute over sovereignty is to actually give up the sovereignty. I don't believe that you will accept this," Cao told the audience.
After watching the TV debate, Cao said he was convinced that Taiwan's future and interests would only be hurt if Lien was elected president.
"Lien failed to propose clear and effective policies for Taiwan and his stand about Taiwan's orientation will only deepen China's illusion that Taiwan is part of its territory. It will put Taiwan in a more dangerous position," Cao said.
He received a standing ovation from the audience.
Stephane Corcuff, a political professor from the University of La Rochelle, who teaches Taiwan politics in France, said that China is unable to accept the fact that the people of Taiwan have shifted their national identity.
"However, it is a change that never stops," he said.
"I think it is important to realize that the biggest problem between China and Taiwan is the problem of national identity," he said.
"I hope that the textbooks used in Taiwan's schools will teach your students more about your own history," said Corcuff, who last month published a book in Chinese about the national identification of mainlanders in Taiwan.
Lee Teng-hui, along with participants and forum speakers, joined hands and rehearsed the "228 Hand-in-Hand Rally" which will be held on Feb. 28. The human chain formed a circle in the shape of Taiwan on the school's playground and participants shouted "believe in Taiwan, stick to reform."
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