The Democratic Progressive Party chief urges supporters to back new constitution and title

During a speech in the southern city of Kaohsiung at the “U.N. for Taiwan, Peace forever” evening protest, Yu said Taiwan and China are two separate countries, while more than 100,000 participants cheered.

The event was broadcast live in New York, where another group of supporters, led by Minister Shieh Jhy-wei of the Government Information Office, shouted “Taiwan Number One, U.N. for Taiwan.”

According to Yu, when Ma Ying-jeou, the opposition Nationalist Party candidate for the next presidential election, claims he supports the concept of “one China, different interpretations,” he ultimately means unification.

The concept refers to Taipei’s interpretation of the high-profile meetings between Taiwan and China officials in the 1990s, whereby both sides of the Taiwan Strait allegedly agreed upon the principle that there is one China, but disagreed upon the meaning of “China.” To Taipei, China meant the Republic of China.

“The Republic of China (ROC) has already ceased to exist,” said Yu. “We should not dispute with China over the U.N. seat.”

He added that the DPP must succeed during the next legislative and presidential elections, if the party wants to achieve its goal of changing the country’s name and adopting a new constitution.

Meanwhile, Yu also decried Washington’s opposition to the planned U.N. referendum, even though he acknowledged that for years the U.S. has been very supportive of Taiwan democracy.

During a press conference on Friday, Yu said that the United States should be proud of Taiwan instead of sending “contradictory” messages in support of Taiwan democracy and against President Chen Shui-bian’s planned referendum.

Yu was responding to recent comments made by Thomas J. Christensen, U.S. deputy assistant secretary for East Asia. Christensen said that the U.N. referendum was a “needlessly provocative” step apparently intended to change the status quo.

“If Taiwan is not a sovereign country, how can [the DPP] be accused of changing the official name of the country,” Yu said. He added that following the same logic, Falun Gong and Tibetan leaders should also be accused of provocation. He further claimed that the U.S. does not respect the principles of its founding fathers.

“There is no contradiction between the planned referendum and President Chen’s ‘Four Noes’ pledge,” said Yu.

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