DPP refuses to stop promoting United Nations bid

Cabinet Secretary-General Chen Ching-chun said the government will continue promoting the U.N. bid, which he claimed receives the support of more than 70 percent of Taiwan’s people.

He was speaking in the wake of remarks made by Thomas Christensen, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, who in Tuesday detailed the reasons behind Washington’s opposition to Taiwan’s U.N. bid.

He said the United States does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state and considers its call for a referendum on its U.N. bid a “needlessly provocative” step towards changing its status quo.

But Chen said the government will continue communicating with Washington over the U.N. issue, so that supporters of democracy and freedom from the international community may voice their backing for Taiwan’s U.N. bid.

He declined to say whether the Cabinet considers Christensen’s remarks as a form of U.S. interference of Taiwan’s internal affairs.

But he said the U.S. would change its position if it understands Taiwan’s wish.

As a member of the developed world, Taiwan hopes to join international organizations, he said.

He said the proposal for the U.N. referendum will follow all the procedures required by the Central Election Commission (CEC).

DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh hopes the U.S. can listen to the voice of the Taiwan people, according to his campaign spokesman Chao Tien-lin.

During his last visit to the United States, Hsieh already conveyed Taiwan’s wish concerning the U.N. bid to the U.S. government, said Chao.

The U.N. is meant to consolidate the will of the nation, as without such a will Taiwan cannot defend itself, Chao said.

Christensen spelt out the U.S. position on Taiwan’s U.N. bid while addressing the Defense Industry Conference organized by the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council in Annapolis, Maryland on the topic, “A Strong and Moderate Taiwan.”

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