Democratic Progressive Party responds to United States criticism of United Nations bid

But Ma Ying-jeou, the presidential candidate of the opposition Kuomintang, noted that Washington has sent the strongest ever warning against such a public vote.

Both sides were responding to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte’s latest rebuke of Chen’s referendum plan, which he said would be a “mistake” marking “a step towards a declaration of independence of Taiwan.”

DPP Secretary General Lin Chia-lung said that while the United States claims to be the world’s greatest democratic country, Negroponte’s remarks are humiliating not to Taiwan but to America’s founding spirit.

He urged the United States not to make any compromises to China at the expense of Taiwan.

The DPP will invite Chen to take part in a massive rally in Kaohsiung on Sept. 15 in support of referendum, Lin said.

Vice President Annette Lu, DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh and his running mate, Su Tseng-chang, will also be invited, Lin added.

Lin said that the DPP’s overseas offices will also arrange activities promoting the U.N. bid next month, and on Sept. 15 they will hold events corresponding to the Kaohsiung rally.

The DPP expects a crowd of 500,000 supporters at the Kaohsiung rally, and a global turnout of more than 1 million, Lin said.

DPP lawmakers also spoke out defending the U.N. bid, which they said is a demonstration of the common will and aspiration of the people in Taiwan.

Legislator Wang Sing-nan, a whip of the DPP legislative caucus, said that it is not fair that the United States opposes Taiwan’s referendum plan.

He said Washington should have instead faulted U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for publicly describing Taiwan as belonging to China.

The DPP whip said it is important to use the referendum to show the world that Taiwan is an independent, sovereign country.

DPP Legislator William C.T. Lai said that Negroponte’s remarks show the United States’ lack of understanding of the expectations of the people of Taiwan.

The U.N. bid is aimed at safeguarding the rights of the Taiwan people, rather than at moving towards Taiwan independence, Lai said.

U.N. membership is necessary for the protection of Taiwan from invasion by China, and for peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region.

DPP Legislator Yeh Yi-jin said as every nation has its own interests, it is understandable that the United States attaches greater importance to China, which offers a much bigger market than Taiwan.

But she urged the United States to realize that Taiwan also has its own national interests and its people are entitled to expressing their views through the referendum.

DPP Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim said the United States is restricting the progress of Taiwan’s democratization by opposing the referendum plan.

Hsiao claimed that Negroponte made the remarks more with the aim of getting the message across to the Chinese leadership than speaking to the people of Taiwan.

But KMT presidential candidate Ma said Negroponte’s remarks represent a strong message to Taiwan from the United States.

Ma said that no other ranking U.S. official has publicly criticized Taiwan’s policy in such strong terms before.

Ma said he does not think the DPP administration’s rash and abrupt moves regarding Taiwan’s U.N. bid will work.

“It is wishful thinking that the United States will take whatever it is given and that it will come to Taiwan’s rescue anytime,” he said.

Ma said that the KMT will continue to push for a referendum on the country’s bid to “return” to the United Nations.

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