First lady's European tour was a big success

 

By Chen Lung-chu

 

` The first lady's trip to the three European countries initiated a diverse model of interaction between Taiwan and Europe.'

 

First lady Wu Shu-chen visited Germany, Italy and the Vatican on a tour to promote culture and peace from July 15 to July 23.

 

She was seen in front of a part of the Berlin Wall with the words "A-bian will surely win" daubed on it. She met with the Pope, received a humanitarian service award and had talks with parliament members and individuals who are friendly to Taiwan.

 

On all these occasions, the first lady was given a highly respectful reception. Her trip not only attracted the attention of Europeans, but also explored greater possibilities for cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and European countries in both the non-governmental cultural sphere and on the diplomatic level.

 

On behalf of her husband, President Chen Shui-bian, Wu has taken overseas trips for three consecutive years. In 2001, she represented Chen for the first time to receive the "2001 Freedom Award" presented by Liberal International at the European Parliament headquarters in Strasbourg, France. Last year, she visited the US. This year, she has just wrapped up a successful cultural tour in Europe.

 

On each of her trips, the first lady displayed her straightforward and humorous personality along with her strong willpower and a sense of mission. She overcame the discomforts of long-distance flights and restricted mobility to bring Taiwan onto the international stage and expand the nation's diplomatic space.

 

Due to geographic restrictions, Taiwan and Europe used to have very limited bilateral exchanges. Now, in view of the trends of globalization and greater influence of EU members, strengthening cooperation and exchanges with Europe on economic, technological, cultural and political levels should be given priority in the nation's Europe policy.

 

We should pull out all the stops to develop relations with the EU Parliament, European governments, congresses and political parties and promote exchange visits by high-level government officials from both sides.

 

In addition, we should study how to promote democratic and cultural diplomacy, including bilateral cultural and artistic exchanges, visits and performances by non-governmental art groups, and so on to showcase Taiwan's unique cultural and artistic essence as well as its democratic transformation.

 

Enhanced by democratic and cultural interactions with Europe, Taiwan's local culture will be enriched and diversified.

 

The diplomatic work should aim at employing our limited diplomatic resources to acquire the maximum benefit for the nation.

 

The first lady's trip to the three European countries initiated a diverse model of interaction between Taiwan and Europe. This tour has been the subject of widespread reports in the international media, thereby enabling more Europeans to understand Taiwan's democracy and culture. This will be of great help for Taiwan to promote international friendships, expand diplomacy and boost the nation's image.

 

Chen Lung-chu is chairman of the Taiwan New Century Foundation.

 

 

Chen determined over referendums

 

RESTORATION: Direct democracy is a basic right that was stolen from the people and which should have been returned long ago, the president said yesterday

 

By Lin Chieh-yu

STAFF REPORTER

 

President Chen Shui-bian yesterday reaffirmed his intention to hold referendums during his presidency, saying that following the peaceful transfer of power in 2000, the realization of the referendum mechanism in 2004 would be the second milestone for Taiwan's democratic development.

"Referendums have been carried out in many democratic countries for a long time ... and for all Taiwanese, this is the recovery of their original rights, which should have come about long ago," Chen said.

 

"The government is now drawing a plan to set up [a referendum mechanism]," he added, "I have 100 percent confidence that the people of Taiwan will accomplish this historical mission rationally," he said.

 

Accompanied by Vice President Annette Lu, Chen made his remarks yesterday when delivering a telecast speech to the 30th Annual Meeting of the World Federation of Taiwanese Associations (WFTA) in London.

 

Chen stressed that last year he had told participants in the meeting that Taiwan had to "go its own way," which he defined as "the way of democracy, freedom, and human rights," which he called a correct path from which there was no turning back.

 

"Now, while the whole world is watching whether we can continue along this road to make history, I announced on June 27 that the government will hold referendums on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant and other important public issues on March 20 next year or before that date," Chen said.

 

"This will be the first time in Taiwan's history that people of the country can exercise direct democracy and make the final decision on national issues," Chen said.

 

Chen then compared his referendum policy with Hong Kong's recently proposed "anti-subversion" legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law.

 

Pointing out the widespread fears that the proposed legislation will curtail basic liberties of Hong Kong residents, Chen said Hong Kong's experience under China's rule proved that Beijing's "one country, two systems" model was developing in a way quite antithetical to Taiwan.

 

"Over 500,000 Hong Kong people marched through the streets to express their opposition to the legislation, which aims to repress freedom of speech ... showing that people in Hong Kong have woken up and realized that only by supporting [Hong Kong's] freedoms and democratization can they ensure its future prosperity," Chen said.

 

"In comparison with China's rude pressure [such as] blocking Taiwan's bid to enter the World Health Organization [WHO], as well as Hong Kong's current situation, we can only conclude that the real meaning of `two systems' is totalitarianism and oppression. The policy is a sham," Chen said.

 

Last year, when addressing the 29th annual meeting of the WFTA in Tokyo on Aug. 3, Chen raised the stakes with China by claiming in a 20-minute video presentation that there was "one country on either side" of the Taiwan Strait and that Taiwan had to seriously consider passing a referendum law to protect the country's sovereignty.

 

On that occasion, he also reiterated that Taiwan must go its "own way" in building its future in the wake of Beijing's rejection of Taiwan's goodwill toward improving cross-strait relations.

 

 

But Chinese officials warn US of future strife

 

CAUTION NEEDED: China said that any referendum in Taiwan was an unacceptable move toward an eventual vote on independence

 

AGENCIES , TAIPEI AND WASHINGTON

 

China has warned Taiwan again through the US not to hold a referendum to seek independence, saying it would trigger a crisis in cross-Strait ties, Taiwanese news reports said yesterday.

 

Two Chinese envoys made the warning when they met US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage in Washington DC on Monday, Taiwanese radio and newspapers said, quoting US State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker as saying on Friday.

 

The two enjoys, Chen Yunlin and Zhou Mingwei, director and deputy director of the Chinese State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, told Armitage that Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian's insistence on holding a referendum was a gradual form of seeking independence for Taiwan.

"By doing that, Taiwan will cross the red line of China's tolerance and will cause regional tension. China will not sit idle," Chen and Zhou told Armitage.

 

Armitage was expected to pass on China's warning to a Taiwanese delegation led by Presidential Secretary General Chiou I-jen yesterday, Taiwanese press said.

 

This is the second time in two month Chinese officials have warned Taiwan through the US not to hold a referendum on Taiwan's future.

 

On June 1, Chinese President Hu Jintao, while attending the G8 summit in Evian, France, told US President George W. Bush that China would not sit idle if Taiwan held a referendum to decide its future.

 

President Chen plans to hold a referendum on nuclear power and WHO membership in March, the same month Taiwan is scheduled to hold its presidential election. Chen has said he will seek a second four-year term in next year's election.

 

Meanwhile, Chiou and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau gave separate briefings in Washington on Friday to researchers from two US think tanks on Taiwan's proposed referendum.

 

Although the two briefings at the Brookings Institution and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, respectively, were closed to the press, some of the US experts on Chinese affairs said afterward the briefings were helpful in easing their misgivings on the referendum issue.

 

An anonymous source said the Taiwan delegation explained the reasons behind wanting to hold a referendum as well as fielded questions from US experts regarding the referendum process, how the issues were chosen, how the questions on the ballot will be worded, and what effects the referendum will have.

 

The source said the US experts were not opposed to the idea of a referendum in Taiwan but were concerned about its possible political impact on Washington-Beijing-Taipei relations. They informed Chiou that Washington would not like to see any crisis straining ties at this time and that a referendum in Taiwan could possibly trigger such a crisis.

 

Lu lends support to referendum plan

 

CALL: The vice president said there was no need for a referendum law because the spirit of the Constitution and international law serve as a legal basis for plebiscites

 

By Chang Yun-ping

STAFF REPORTER

 

"No one should ever need to doubt the legitimacy of the government's ability to hold a referendum."－Annette Lu, vice president

 

Vice President Annette Lu yesterday defended the legitimacy of the government's holding of an advisory referendum before the next presidential election, saying that international public law and the spirit of Constitution serve as a legal basis for referendums in Taiwan.

 

Citing a passage from the UN Charter which said "All people have the right to self-determination" and the ROC Constitution which stipulates that the power of the nation resides in its people, Lu said, "No one should ever need to doubt the legitimacy of the government's ability to hold a referendum" as opposed to the legislature's recent failure to pass a referendum bill in the last legislative session.

 

Despite the setback of the referendum-bill failure in the legislature, the Cabinet still insists on holding an advisory referendum, which could go ahead even without the passing of the referendum bill.

 

However, the opposition camps, which withdrew their support from the referendum legislation in the legislature's special session in early July, opposed the idea of an advisory referendum, saying it is illegal.

 

Lu made the comments yesterday at the second anniversary party of the Northern Taiwan Society, a group advocating Taiwan's independence.

 

Yesterday's celebration also saw Latvian critic Valdis Berzins, a foreign news editor from Latvia's Lauku Avize Weekly, invited to deliver a speech on the Baltic nation's journey to independence.

 

"Latvia had a lot of similar experiences to Taiwan in its fight for independence. We held a referendum in 1991 to strongly express the Latvian people's will for independence," Berzin said.

 

Citing Latvia's success in gaining independence through a strong consolidation of the people's will, Lu said, "That's solid proof that as long as our people are determined, we can make it happen in Taiwan."

 

"Latvia's referendum showed that 91 percent of its public supported independence -- solid proof of the Latvian people's self-determination which prompted the UN to invite Latvia to join the international organization at a time when very few countries in the world supported Latvia's independence," Lu said.

 

"That's the charisma of a referendum," the vice president said.

 

In yesterday's event ,the Northern Taiwan Society, along with 140 other private groups, pledged to demand the government push for a referendum.

 

Amid the controversial referendum bill which was killed in the last legislative session due to opposition from the pan-blue camp, the groups yesterday urged the legislature to prioritize the bill in the next legislative session.

 

Northern Taiwan Society, which initiated the campaign, said "The power of the powerless [the people] is the right to vote in common elections and referendums. We demand the government give Taiwanese people this direct power -- the referendum power guaranteed by the Constitution -- so that the people can express their opinions about the public policing directly through referendums."

 

The Northern Taiwan Society was founded in 2001 as a member of the four Taiwan Societies: Southern, based in Kaohsiung, Central in Taichung, Northern in Taipei and Eastern in Hualien.

 

The common ideal of the four groups is working toward an independent, just and progressive Taiwan.

 

Members of the four groups are mostly doctors, academics, lawyers and professionals from cultural and business sectors. Former president Lee Teng-hui also helped the founding of the organization.

In addition to advocating Taiwanese independence, the group also promotes activities concerning the "localization" of Taiwan, the construction of a civil, equal and democratic society and the reinforcement of media's quality.

 

 

Chen confident of election win

 

NO DOUBT: The president said next year's election would be a race between supporters of `one country on either side' and of the `one China' principle

 

By Lin Chieh-yu

STAFF REPORTER

 

President Chen Shui-bian yesterday told former US representative to Taipei James Lilley, who is in Taiwan to promote his new book, that next year's presidential election will be a competition between "one country on either side" of the Taiwan Strait and the "one China" principle, and that he expected to win.

 

"Though the opposition pan-blue alliance led the ruling DPP and its allies by more than 25 percentage points in opinion polls in April, recent polls and surveys all show that support for the opposition alliance and ruling DPP is even," Chen said.

 

"The trend shows that support for the pan-blue alliance is going downhill and support for the DPP is continually rising, which means that the ruling DPP has gained the advantage in the campaign," the president said.

 

Chen said that the DPP's confidence that it can win the election also comes from splits in the pan-blue alliance.

 

"Recently I have received some grassroots leaders and businessmen from the opposition alliance and they have showed sincerity in shifting their support to us," Chen said. "We believe that it is a trend and there will be more followers."

 

Chen yesterday welcomed Lilley and Christopher DeMuth, president the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), to the Presidential Office and congratulated Lilley on the success of his new book. He then discussed cross-strait issues, referendums and the presidential election with his guests.

 

Chen stressed that the main obstacle to the development of cross-strait communication was Beijing's "one China" principle, which is totally different from US government's "one China" policy.

 

"The US policy and stance is to facilitate a `peaceful means' of solving the cross-strait issue rather than to make `peaceful reunification' the issue's conclusion," Chen said. "What the US emphasizes is the process, not to force both sides into accepting a pre-defined conclusion."

President Chen Shui-bian, right, shakes hands with James Lilley, former director of the American Institute in Taiwan, during a meeting at the Presidential Office yesterday.