Lawmakers of the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) called on the government yesterday to settle territorial disputes with China arising from the middle line in the Taiwan Strait by writing a new constitution.
The TSU lawmakers said at a press conference at the Legislative Yuan that "the people of Taiwan should play the major role in writing a new constitution to clearly and faithfully demarcate this country's sovereign territory."
Now that both Taiwan and China recognize the center line in the Strait, a highly sensitive area for the two sides and the US, the government should take the initiative to write a new constitution to clearly define the de jure territory under Taiwan's sovereignty, they said, adding that by doing so, Taiwan will be able to crush Beijing's attempts to invade the country.
Although the line is artificial, they said that its military importance fully reflects the territorial disputes between the two sides of the Strait.
Although the line creates an extremely delicate situation for Taiwan, China and the US, Beijing has repeatedly tried to dominate the situation in the area, they said.
Commenting on ownership of Taiwan-controlled Kinmen and Matsu islands that are located west of the middle line, the TSU lawmakers said that they would respect the views of the people on these outlying islands, who could decide in a referendum to which side they wish to belong.
Military aircraft from both sides of the Strait are not allowed to fly across the middle line, which, according to Minister of National Defense Lee Jye (李傑), was drawn up in 1951 by the US to prevent military conflict between the two sides.
Since President Chen Shui-bian (
According to the Republic of China's Constitution, the nation's territory still includes China.
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