Bruce Herschensohn, a professor of public policy at Pepperdine University in California, the United States, put forth the proposal during a meeting with Chen in Taipei.

Noting that Oct. 25 this year will mark the 36th anniversary of Taiwan’s ouster from the United Nations, Herschensohn suggested that the day be declared “Taiwan Independence Day, “ a step which he said will be as historic as the designation of July 4 as Independence Day in the United States.

Herschensohn further proposed that Taiwan stop its bid to enter the United Nations to avoid gathering in the same hall with other “infamous governments.”

In response to the “Taiwan Independence Day” proposal, Chen said that this is the first time that he has heard such a creative idea and that he is deeply impressed with it.

However, Chen said this is a very serious issue that requires careful discussion.

According to Chen, if Oct. 25 were to be declared “Taiwan Independence Day, “ his “four noes” commitments to the United States would become “three noes.”

He was referring to pledges made in his 2000 and 2004 inaugural addresses that if China has no intention of using force against Taiwan, he will not declare Taiwan independence, not change the official name of the country, not include the “state-to-state” concept on cross-strait relations in the Constitution, and not promote a referendum to change the cross strait status quo.

The president recalled that on Oct. 25, 2003, many people in Taiwan took part in a demonstration asking for a referendum on a new constitution, an event which he said marked the soaring of the Taiwanese consciousness among the people in this country and which boosted his support rating for his second presidential campaign.

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