Although the two participants facing off in the televised referendum debate held different views about whether to increase the nation's anti-missile defenses, they both called on voters to support the referendum mechanism by casting ballots on March 20.
The fourth referendum debate took place yesterday as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Yu Ching (
The referendum asks voters: "If China refuses to withdraw the missiles targeted at Taiwan and does not give up its military threats, do you agree that the government should buy more anti-missile weapons and equipment to strengthen Taiwan's defense capabilities?"
Arguing for answering "yes" to the question, Yu said that it is urgent for Taiwan to buy more anti-missiles weapons to protect itself from China, which has steadily increased its military purchases over the past 10 years.
Yu said that China's defense budget has increased by about 16 percent in the past five years, and that it has developed its space industry in recent years. Taiwan, he said, has cut its military budget in the same period.
"The military balance across the Strait will become unbalanced in a short time if we allow this situation to continue," Yu said.
Given that China has said that it will not renounce attacking Taiwan by force, Yu said that Taiwan has to increase "defensive weapons and equipment" to protect itself, rather than focusing on "offensive weapons."
"[Buying offensive weapons] will only create an endless arms race and international society will not approve of it. Moreover, Taiwan will be encumbered by its military budget," Yu said.
"The people of Taiwan should together establish a defensive mentality when it comes to national security," Yu said, stressing that supporting the referendum is the best way to embody this idea.
"Everyone in Taiwan should express the view loudly and with unity that we are determined to protect ourselves and not allow anyone to invade Taiwan," Yu said.
Kao, a professor of computer science at National Taiwan University in addition to his post with the Green Party, said that he objected to buying anti-missile weapons and to increasing the military budget, since the basic platform planks of the Green Party are opposing war, protecting the environment and pursuing peace.
Kao said that he was a legitimate debater who stood for the opposition side in terms of the question itself.
"Many people have claimed that they supported voting `no' on the referendum question when in fact they simply opposed the referendum," Kao said, saying that he was referring to debaters who had come from UFO radio (
Kao said that he has been advocating referendums since 1996, especially on the establishment of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant.
However, Kao said, because of a boycott by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party, the Referendum Law (公民投票法) become a "bird-cage referendum" and thus many proposals could not be submitted to a referendum.
"Therefore, I urge everyone to vote in the referendum held in March no matter whether you agree with the questions or not, because it is an opportunity that is not easy to win," Kao said.
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