Beijing Wednesday condemned the Taiwan authorities' attempts to
conduct island-wide referenda on Taiwan's nuclear and health care
issues, calling it a separatist move to create tensions across the
Taiwan Straits.
Li
Weiyi, spokesman with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State
Council, said the mainland firmly opposes what it branded a
"separatist move" and one "that goes against the basic interests of
the whole Chinese nation, including Taiwan compatriots."
Addressing a regular press conference, Li said: "It is a creeping
pro-independence step aimed at splitting Taiwan from the
motherland..... for the Taiwan authorities to connive and support
the attempt of a handful of separatist members to promote the
referendum..
"We have long made it clear that we are consistently and firmly
opposed to such separatist activities."
His comments were in response to proposals by Taiwan's Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) administration to hold referenda.
Led by Chen Shui-bian, who doubles as chairman of the ruling party,
the administration is considering holding a poll of the islands
citizens to settle a long-standing debate over whether to continue,
or halt, construction of a partially completed nuclear power
plant.
The referendum is also targeted at voting on whether Taiwan should
try to join the World Health Organization.
Although the referendum, at least on face value, is non-political
and plays no part in cross-Straits relations, it is widely believed
that the pro-independence DPP is taking advantage of the plan to
pave the way for a referendum on whether to seek formal
independence from China.
The ruling DPP enshrines Taiwan independence in its party manifest
and favors a public referendum to decide the island's future.
In
May 2000 when Chen assumed office, he pledged not to promote any
referendum on changing the status quo on independence.
At
yesterday's press conference, Li also referred to Beijing's
appreciation of Washington's opposition to proposed referenda on
the island concerning the nuclear plant and WHO issues.
He
noted that the US opposition to any form of Taiwan independence is
conducive to general Sino-US relations, stability in cross-Straits
ties, as well as peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
Last week, Douglas Paal, director of the American Institute in
Taiwan, the de facto US mission on the island in the absence of
official ties, reportedly told Chen that the US is opposed to all
forms of referenda in Taiwan.
On
Monday, US State Department spokesman Philip T. Reeker went further
and warned the island against making provocative moves.
The United States regularly urges Taiwan "to refrain from actions
or statements which increases tension across the Straits," Reeker
said.
(China Daily June 26, 2003)