The US has reminded Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian to keep his
commitment to not raising sovereignty issues after he pushed for a
new "constitution" for the island.
Chen, under pressure to resign over corruption scandals, raised
the issue of a new "constitution" at a seminar on Sunday sponsored
by his independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
The Taiwan leader raised the possibility of changing the
territorial definitions of Taiwan.
Reacting to the move, the US State Department said on Monday
that Washington "does not support independence for Taiwan, and we
continue to be opposed to unilateral changes in the status quo by
either side."
The US took "very seriously" Chen's "repeated commitments not to
permit the 'constitutional' reform process to touch on sovereignty
issues, including territorial definition," State Department deputy
spokesman Tom Casey told reporters. "We expect him to carry out
those commitments, and we'll see what happens."
The fulfillment of the commitments, Casey said, "is a test of
his leadership, as well as his ability to protect Taiwan's
interests and its relations with others, and to maintain peace and
stability in the Straits."
The National People's Congress (NPC) last year approved the Anti-Secession Law to deter any secessionist
scheme seeking formal independence for the island because Taiwan is
an inalienable part of China.
Chen told the seminar on Sunday that Taiwan should overhaul its
"constitution" that was enacted by the Kuomintang (KMT) government
in 1947 and has gone through seven amendments since 1991.
Under the "constitution," "Taiwan's territory included all of
China," but in reality only Taiwan and some offshore islands are
ruled from Taipei, he said. Chen has previously sidestepped the
sensitive topic of territory by saying that Taiwan needs a new
"constitution" only to enhance government efficiency.
In a related development, Taiwan's People First Party (PFP)
yesterday proposed a new recall vote in the "legislature" in a
renewed effort to oust Chen.
The first attempt to launch a recall that would include an
island-wide referendum on Chen's fate failed in June when fewer
than the required two-thirds of "lawmakers" voted in its favor.
The proposal came after a call on Monday by KMT Chairman Ma
Ying-jeou for a new recall motion.
A "legislative" committee agreed yesterday to consider the PFP
motion. Chen's DPP said in a statement that it opposed the
move.
The fresh attempt to topple Chen comes after hundreds of
thousands of people, led by former DPP Chairman Shih Ming-teh, took
to Taipei's streets this month calling for his resignation.
The round-the-clock demonstration in downtown Taipei began on
September 9. Smaller rallies in southern Taiwan this week led to
scuffles between anti- and pro-Chen camps.
Chen, who was elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 by a thin
margin, has been questioned over the undocumented use of more than
36 million new Taiwan dollars (US$1.12 million) from his
confidential "state affairs budget" for 2005.
His wife, Wu Shu-chen, is accused of accepting millions in
department store gift certificates, but Chen has rejected the
accusation. His son in-law, Chao Chien-ming, is facing insider
trading charges and fighting them in court. Chen's ex-deputy chief
of staff, Chen Che-nan, faces corruption charges.
(China Daily September 27, 2006)