Overseas Chinese chant slogans during a
meeting protesting against "Taiwan referendum on United Nations
membership," in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 14, 2007. More than
600 overseas Chinese in the Philippines attended the meeting
Friday. (Xinhua Photo)
Overseas Chinese around the world on Friday strongly denounced
Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's attempt at Taiwan membership of the
United Nations through a referendum.
In Canberra, the Chinese community in Australian Capital
Territory (ACT) condemned the move by Taiwan authorities.
Chen Weidong, vice president of the ACT Council for the
Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China, expressed his
strong opposition and great indignation over the referendum
plan.
The plan is quite harmful to the relationship between the two
sides of the Taiwan Straits and peace and stability in the
Asia-Pacific region, he said at a symposium that gathered more than
40 Chinese community leaders and representatives of overseas
Chinese in ACT.
Taiwan, as part of China, has no right to apply for U.N.
membership, because U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758, adopted
in 1971, stipulated clearly that the government of the People's
Republic of China is the sole legitimate representative of China in
the world body, he added.
Han Xueye, acting president of the Federation of Chinese
Community of Canberra, said the move by the Taiwan authorities
totally disregards the interests of Taiwan's 23 million residents
and the feelings of the Chinese nation.
She expressed her belief that all overseas Chinese will do their
best to oppose the Taiwan authorities' attempt to seek "Taiwan
independence."
Eileen Yang, vice president of the Australian Chinese Culture
Exchange and Promotion Association, said peace between the two
sides of the Taiwan Straits benefits not only economic development
on the Chinese mainland, but also the interests of Taiwan's
residents and overseas Chinese.
She expressed her strong support for the policies of "One
Country, Two Systems" and the peaceful reunification of China
adopted by the Chinese government.
Yang also said she supports the Chinese government's stance that
the future of cross-Straits relations eventually lies in the hands
of the 1.3 billion Chinese people, Taiwan compatriots included.
In Manila, about 600 Filipino Chinese attended a meeting to
express their indignation over Chen's attempt to seek "Taiwan
independence" and his latest move.
Li Rongxun, chairman of the Association of Promotion of Peaceful
Reunification of China of the Philippines, said Filipino Chinese
will never allow Chen to split Taiwan from China.
He said the future of Taiwan should be decided by 1.3 billion
Chinese as well as 50 million overseas Chinese, instead of by
manipulative moves of Chen such as the referendum.
Representatives of other Filipino-Chinese associations and
groups also severely condemned the move by Chen, which they said
directly threatens peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and
Asia-Pacific region.
The meeting also issued a declaration expressing full support to
the Chinese government's stand on Taiwan, while calling for unified
actions by all Chinese to stop any plot to split Taiwan from
China.
The Overseas Chinese Association in Mongolia also issued a
statement, strongly condemning the proposed referendum on UN
membership in the name of Taiwan.
Resident Chinese in Mongolia are outraged by the referendum plan
by Taiwan authorities who obstinately cling to their secessionist
moves of seeking "Taiwan independence," the statement said.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and Taiwan
authorities' U.N. membership bid will never succeed, the statement
said.
The referendum plan is no more than an attempt to cover up
Chen's misdeeds and a "despicable trick" designed to stir up and
distort public opinion on Taiwan, the statement added.
The overseas Chinese in Mongolia support the Chinese
government's policy of the peaceful reunification of the motherland
and will never allow "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces to
split Taiwan from the motherland, the statement said.
(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2007)
