The TSU, of which former President Lee Teng-hui is the undeclared founder, is scheduled to introduce again a resolution on the plebiscite before the end of this month to pave the way for what is called the “rectification of the name” for Taiwan.

Once the resolution, voted down in the last Legislative Yuan session, is adopted, TSU lawmakers will move to call a plebiscite to rename the country, sources said.

The plebiscite, a source close to the TSU said, will call for an amendment to the Constitution to change the official title of the Republic of China to the Republic of Taiwan.

“That would be a one-two punch to get what they have wanted all along,” the source pointed out.

As a prelude to its motion to table the plebiscite resolution, the TSU sponsored a “rectification of the name” rally in Kaohsiung in the afternoon.

Vice President Annette Lu and Mayor of Kaohsiung Frank Hsieh took part in the meeting, calling for replacement of China or Chinese with Taiwan in every official title.

Hundreds of people paraded through major streets of the southern Taiwan port city, shouting slogans for the use of Taiwan as part of the official title Taipei should use to join the United Nations.

Taipei has for the past 11 years tried to rejoin the United Nations as the Republic of China. Its annual bid has never survived the U.N. General Committee, which set the agenda for the General Assembly.

“Taiwan is our country,” half a dozen large banners proclaimed. Other slogans included: “Taiwan Is Our Motherland” and “Rectification of the Name Is the Dream of Our Mothers.”

A spokesman for the mass rally said state-run enterprises should also change their names. “The Chinese Petroleum Corporation,” he said, “should change its name to the Taiwan Petroleum Corporation.”

He urged the Ministry of National Defense to rechristen all warships. “Instead of using Chinese place names,” he said, “the Navy should rename its ships after cities and towns in Taiwan.”