The United States has sent a clear signal to Taiwan. Its
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice described Taiwan authorities'
planned referendum on joining the United Nations as provocative and
unhelpful.
Such a statement from the US is necessary and important because
these people have long considered the US as a strong backer in the
international arena.
Once again, the Taiwan authorities have been trying to push the
envelop by coming up with a proposal to join the UN through a
referendum on the island province.
This will dangerously affect the status quo of relations across
the Taiwan Straits.
Ostensibly, such a move by Taiwan authorities is not what the US
wants to see. If the Taiwan authorities want to throw down the
gauntlet to the mainland in its resolve to keep the Chinese
territory whole, the US does not want to be dragged into the
mud.
The Taiwan authorities' proposal to put the island's UN
membership to a vote alongside elections in March is a step toward
the island's secession. Chen Shui-bian came up with the idea for
his personal gain - soliciting support for his Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP).
Rice's comment on Taiwan authorities' planned referendum has
caused strong reverberations on the island. Taiwan media and
analysts are trying to guess what the comment means to their
relations and the DPP.
For the first time, the US Secretary of State has issued a
warning to Taiwan.
Making a quick response to Rice, Chen and his supporters said
they would go ahead with the planned referendum. In other words,
they are going to keep creating tension across the Taiwan
Straits.
They have given no thought to the wellbeing of the 23 million
people on the island as Rice said the referendum "promises no real
benefits for the people of Taiwan on the international stage".
When Taiwan was expelled from the UN in 1971, the world
organization recognized that Taiwan is part of China. The UN
Secretary-General has said it would not be legally possible for his
office to accept an application for UN membership from Taiwan
because of the 1971 resolution.
The political challenge from the Taiwan authorities can do
nothing to change the fact that the island is part of China but
invite more contempt from the international community.
(China Daily December 25, 2007)
