Confusion about referendums

 

In reference to Chen Ro-jinn's article ("The answer to every woe is not a referendum," Sept 25, page 8).The writer is correct in that referendums, as thought of in Taiwan at this time, are not the answer to every problem, as there is still much confusion as to what they can do, or might mean to individuals and governments.

 

We have referendums on almost every ballot here in Ohio and in Cleveland. The referendums are called "Issues," and the issues that are decided by the voters are those that pertain to the voters' pocketbook.

 

Let's say the county in which I live needs new sewage plants. The county would put a property tax on the ballot and ask the voters to pass it to provide the new plants. If the referendum does not pass, then no new sewage plants would be built and water quality goes down. If the federal government has mandated higher water quality and the issue of more sewage plants does not pass, then the people are agreeing to pay the fines that might be incurred.

 

The Pinglin township referendum was not a valid issue because it asked the residents of a township to allocate the resources of the central government. A referendum or issue can only be put on the ballot by the people or their government to allocate or control land, or money, or time which they control, or will control should the ballot be passed.

 

If the ballot is about extending the right of a government which is already within its power were it not for the wording of the constitution, or of a local ordinance, then once the wording is changed through balloting, then the local, county, central government can move forward. The money to implement the action would then come legitimately from the governed's pocketbook. If it were, say, a country name change, then the people would vote to either pay the price or not of the desired action.

 

If it is, on the other hand, a "no nuclear" policy vote and the government does not step in with an alternative plan, then when the lights go out all over Taiwan the people get to see balloting responsibility in action.

 

This is responsibility up front and personal, but it is also something that happens in mature democracies every day. If the voters of Taiwan go the route of a referendum then they are saying, "I am an adult and I am ready to decide my destiny and pay the cost." This action would be saying something very meaningful.

 

Bode Bliss

Cleveland, Ohio

 

 

Legislators pressed to pass plebiscite law

 

By Chiu Yu-Tzu

STAFF REPORTER

 

Despite public pressure for a referendum on the fate of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, a survey released by environmental groups yesterday showed that less than half of the legislators have promised to help pass a proposed referendum law drafted by the Cabinet.

 

For years, anti-nuclear activists have urged the government to establish a referendum law as the legal basis for carrying out a national referendum to decide the future of the power plant. The plant is now under construction and scheduled to begin commercial operation in July 2006.

 

Since the middle of August, an agreement to pass the nation's first referendum law in the current session has been distributed to all legislators. But as of yesterday, only 105 out of 223 legislators had signed their names to express their support for the new law.

Taiwan Solidarity Union Legislator Chen Chien-ming joins a signature drive asking for a referendum on the fate of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant. An alliance of activist groups pushing for the referendum set up a stand in front of the Legislative Yuan yesterday to promote the signature drive. It plans to run the stand at the same spot every Tuesday and Friday.

 

All 88 Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators have signed on, as have 10 Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) lawmakers.

 

However, the survey shows that lawmakers from the pan-blue camp are reluctant to pass the new law. So far, there have been only three Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators and two People First Party (PFP) legislators who signed their names to the agreement. Those five account for only 5 percent of the combined KMT and PFP caucuses.

 

Only two independent lawmakers have shown their support for a referendum law.

 

"We strongly urge all political caucuses to respect public opinion," Shih Shin-min, one of founders of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, said at a press conference held yesterday in front of the legislature.

 

Anti-nuclear activists from dozens of environmental groups yesterday set up stalls in front of the Legislative Yuan urging people to sign their names to show their support. Activists said that they hoped that such a public show of support for a plebiscite would push non-committal legislators to change their minds.

 

Beginning yesterday, stalls for people to sign became available regularly in front of the Legislative Yuan every Tuesday and Friday.

 

Activists said they hoped that pan-blue and independent lawmakers would show their love for Taiwan by signing on to the agreement in the legislature.

 

Several DPP legislators yesterday were standing with the activists in front of the Legislative Yuan.

 

"Many colleagues from the KMT and PFP caucuses expressed their willingness in the last session to pass the referendum law. Why are they now reluctant to make a promise in the survey?" DPP Legislator Lai Chin-lin asked.

 

DPP Legislator Parris Chang said that the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant should be scrapped for many reasons, including national security.

 

"It would become an ideal target for missiles from China, which would threaten people's lives and property," Chang said.

DPP Legislator Cheng Kuo-chung saidthe environmental impact assessment for the palnt was handled sloppily by the government in the early 1990s and construction should be halted.

 

A national referendum would be necessary in order to achieve that goal, he said.

 

 

Chen needs to explain referendum logic to US

 

By Liu Kuan-teh

 

In his recent testimony before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Sept. 11, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly said US-China relations were better than they had been in years. A week later, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage expressed his reservations about President Chen Shui-bian's decision to hold a referendum on Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization.

 

How are these two incidents related? And what impact will they have on US-Taiwan-China relations?

 

Kelly's comments originate largely from the six-party talks hosted by China early this month. Even though little was agreed, China's attempts to get North Korea to the negotiation table and reinforce its leadership in the Asia-Pacific region has created an atmosphere suitable for US-China rapprochement.

 

Sino-American cooperation on the war against terrorism and security issues on the Korean Peninsula could not have come at a worse time for Taiwan, which wants to use the referendum as a tool to boost its electoral momentum.

 

It appears that Washington was not convinced by the Chen administration on the rationale for a referendum to reconfirm Taiwan's bid for WHO observership. This explains why Armitage questioned the need for a referendum. From the standpoint of the Bush administration, it would not only raise the issue of Tai-wan's sovereignty internationally, it also to a great extent violates Chen's pledge in his inaugural speech about not holding a referendum on independence.

If Chen insists on a referendum, will he cross the "red line" of cross-strait diplomacy and damage the Taipei-Washington relationship? In what way can Chen manipulate the election by utilizing the referendum without damaging the US' trust?

 

Chen must understand the changes that have occurred with the improvement of US-China relations. Although few expected the North Korea talks to produce a breakthrough, the nuclear issue is raising concerns that China is gaining influence in the region, as witnessed by how leaders in Bei-jing handled the matter.

 

China's more moderate approach toward Washington has prompted the Bush administration to forge a candid, constructive and cooperative relationship with Beijing. In the face of Washington's gradual tilt toward Bei-jing, the Chen administration should take a more cautious approach when it comes to generating electoral support.

 

In selling the idea of referendums to the US, the Chen admin-istration must establish candid channels of communication to avoid misinterpretation. It must reconfirm to Washington its position of playing a constructive role in the region, rather than the role of trouble-maker. It should ensure it is not seen to be antagonizing Beijing and jeopardizing the US' interests in Asia.

 

Second, a referendum on the WHO has nothing to do with demonstrating Taiwan's sovereignty. It is a positive way to show Taiwan's determination to contribute to the organization. Tai-wan's efforts to build a better world for all humanity should not be obstructed by China's political interference. When Armitage asked, "Who would not want to join the WHO?" and emphasized that "the US has always supported Taiwan's participation," can he guarantee that the WHO would treat Taiwan with equality and justice?

 

To alleviate the US' concerns, a detailed explanation on how referendums will be implemented must be given. In this regard, what the Chen administration hopes to establish by implementing referendums is to enrich and consolidate Taiwan's democratic achievements. Whatever the outcome, it will be reached through a democratic process and with the consent of the people in Taiwan.

 

Liu Kuan-teh is a Taipei-based political commentator.

China is No. 1 weapons importer

 

REUTERS , WASHINGTON

 

China ordered US$3.6 billion worth of conventional arms last year, cementing its position as the developing world's No. 1 weapons importer, according to a US Congressional Research Service report made available on Thursday.

 

South Korea ranked second with US$1.9 billion in orders followed by India, with US$1.4 billion, and Oman, with US$1.3 billion, said the authoritative, annual report titled Conventional Arms Transfers, 1995-2002.

 

The US once again grabbed the lion's share of deals with developing countries last year with nearly US$8.6 billion, or 48.6 percent, followed by Russia, with US$5 billion, or 28.3 percent, the survey said.

 

France ranked third with US$1 billion or 5.3 percent of such agreements.

 

Cumulatively, China was the developing world's top arms buyer throughout the period tracked. From 1995 to last year, the total value of Beijing's orders totaled US$17.8 billion in current dollars, it said.

 

The United Arab Emirates was second during the same period with US$16.3 billion in orders, including a US$6.4 billion deal with the US in 2000 for 80 Lockheed Martin Corp-built F-16 fighter jets. India was third overall, with US$14.1 billion.

 

"This increase reflects the military modernization effort by China in the 1990s, based primarily on major arms agreements with Russia," wrote Richard Grimmett, the report's author.

 

China has become the "centerpiece" of Russia's arms exports, buying at least 72 Su-27 fighters since 1996 along with two Sovremenny-class destroyers, associated missiles and four Kilo-class attack submarines, said the report.

 

 

 

 

Beijing, using its market leverage, has prodded Moscow to let it produce weapons under license in recent years in a development that will ultimately curb China's reliance on Russian imports, Grimmett said in a telephone interview.

"At some point the Chinese are going to have acquired sufficient capability on their own to build these things without the Russians' assistance," he said.

 

Last year, Russia agreed to supply China eight Kilo-class project 636 submarines for US$1.6 billion, its most advanced diesel submarine, the report said. China also exercised options for two more Sovremenny-class destroyers and additional S300 PMU-2 surface-to-air missile systems, the survey said.

 

In an annual report to Congress on China's military, the US Department of Defense said on July 30 the chief driver behind China's military modernization was a perceived need to prepare "credible military options" to complicate US intervention in any conflict over Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lawmakers fail to agree on bills

 

BILLS: The law covering the Judicial Yuan, amendments to cross-strait legislation and the amended President and Vice President Election and Recall Law are at stake

 

By Fiona Lu

STAFF REPORTER

 

"The TSU demands that rules for Chinese citizens applying for Taiwanese residency on the basis of family relationships should be more stringent."－Chen Chien-ming, TSU Legislator

 

Lawmakers spent yesterday holding fruitless discussions in the Legislative Assembly's first bill-review this session. Ruling and opposition legislators failed to reach agreement on any of the bills on yesterday's legislative agenda.

 

The waiting bills included revisions to the Organic Law of the Judicial Yuan, amendments to the Statute Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area and the amended President and Vice President Election and Recall Law.

 

Deputy speaker of the Legislative Yuan P. K. Chiang finally announced that inter-party negotiations would reconvene on Tuesday, the last day of September, which was the promised deadline for legislative completion of the revised Judicial Yuan Organic Law and the amended statute governing civil exchanges between Taiwan and China.

 

Despite the legislative stalemate of the cross-strait regulation amendments, a group of Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) lawmakers yesterday urged the government to ratchet up its campaign against Chinese stowaways.

 

"The TSU demands that rules for Chinese citizens applying for Taiwanese residency on the basis of family relationships should be more stringent," TSU Legislator Chen Chien-ming said.

 

In light of the enormous increase in the number of Chinese citizens immigrating to Taiwan, the quota and rules governing Chinese nationals applying for residence in Taiwan because they have relatives who are married to ROC nationals should be reviewed, Chen said.

 

He expressed this view after a TSU discussion with officials from the Interior Ministry, National Police Administration and the Mainland Affairs Council.

 

The annual limit of 10,000 Chinese spouses allowed to settle in Taiwan could allow an additoinal 20,000 Chinese nationals to apply for residency because they are related to Chinese spouses. An estimated 1,500,000 immigrants from China could be living in Taiwan by 2008, according to Chen.

 

He said interviews with cross-strait couples have led the police and investigation authorities to believe that 50 out of 100 cross-strait marriages could be fraudulent.

Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Tseng Wen-tsang, right, National Police Administration Director-General Chang Si-liang, second right, Coast Guard Administration Deputy Director Yu Chien-tzu, third right, and other government officials yesterday discuss the issue of Chinese immigrants during a press conference.