Home>>Opinion
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 03, 2003

Chen Shui-bian's 'independence referendum' plot foiled

On November 27, the "blue" (referring to the Kuomintang and People First Party) and the "green" (referring to Democratic Progressive Party and Taiwan Solidarity Union) camps on Taiwan Island put the "referendum law" draft to vote. The result was : Taiwan "legislative yuan" vetoed inclusion of the "green's" articles such as "independence referendum" and constitution into "referendum", and passed the "referendum law" draft put forward by the Kuomintang and the People First parties.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


On November 27, the "blue" (referring to the Kuomintang and People First Party) and the "green" (referring to Democratic Progressive Party and Taiwan Solidarity Union) camps on Taiwan Island put the "referendum law" draft to vote. The result was : Taiwan "legislative yuan" vetoed inclusion of the "green's" articles such as "independence referendum" and constitution into "referendum", and passed the "referendum law" draft put forward by the Kuomintang and the People First parties. Media of Taiwan Island point out that Chen Shui-bian authority "has ended up in crushing defeat"; Chen's conspiracy to create a legal basis for "independence referendum" has fallen through. But Chen's "defensive referendum" article was passed. The passage will cause inestimable influence on cross-Strait relations.

The blue and green scheme against each other
"Referendum legislation" has triggered disputes in Taiwan's "legislative yuan" for more than a decade, and recently it got through at a "provisional meeting of the legislative yuan" held in July this year. At that time, only the "referendum" version of Tsai Tung-Jung, a DPP "legislative committee member" was included into the agenda, but it finally failed to get pass. Since Chen made "referendum constitution" the main topic for next year's election, plus the "blue's" recent change of its stance, so Taiwan "legislative yuan's" examination of the "referendum law" draft drew widespread attention. Prior to this, during the 3-month consultation period, the "blue" and "green" camps as well as within various other camps failed to reach a consensus on the "referendum law" articles. On November 26, their "legislative party" discussed and decided that the various parties put forward their respective final "legislative law" versions at 2:00 pm November 27 and began to put to vote at 4:00 pm the 20-odd articles including "the applicable scope of referendum law", "defensive referendum" and "whether referendum can be held simultaneously with the general election". In order to create a situation in the "referendum law" voting favorable to their own sides, the "blue" and the "green" camps stepped up secret consultations on the eve of voting, they each cudgeled their brains to think out ways to contain the opposing side.

Because the mainland had clearly indicated that "if Taiwan passed the unlimited 'referendum law', the mainland would give strong reaction", the United States had also indicated that "it does not support the referendum law that involves 'Taiwan independence'", so the DPP was forced to adopt a variety of means to make urgent "clearing up of independence". First of all, they did work on Tsai Tung-jung, so that the latter, who advocated "independence referendum" (including the "item on flag, name and territorial change", agreed to rescind his own proposal. Secondly, Tsai Ying-wen, "chairman of the 'mainland affairs council' paid a secret visit to Wang Chin-ping, "president of the legislative yuan", asking him to help in thwarting Tsai Tung-jung's draft and the draft of the Taiwan Solidarity Union which advocated "any topics can be put to referendum", blocking "flag, name and territory from becoming referendum items". Thirdly, the DPP had consultation with the Taiwan Solidarity Union, asking the latter to support the design of the "defensive referendum" in the "referendum law" version of the DPP.

On the other hand, the DPP was also making its smug calculations. Taiwan "administrative yuan" decided that once the "legislative yuan" passed the version unacceptable to the DPP, they would put forward a reconsideration proposal, so as to render the just-passed "referendum law" invalid (vetoing down the reconsideration proposal must have the support of 112 "legislative committee members", it is difficult for the Kuomintang and the People First Party to veto). If the "referendum law" fails to get through, the DPP would shift the responsibility to the "legislative committee members" of the "blue" who had just passed half of the votes in the "legislative yuan", accusing them of being "anti-referendum, anti-reform and anti-democracy". In order to make a big fanfare, the "green army" mobilized nearly 100 "Taiwan independence" organizations and aroused 10,000 people to encircle the "legislative yuan".

The 'referendum law' farce finally wound up
At 4:00 pm November 27, the "green" and "blue" parties respectively issued their "mobilization order A", asking their "legislative committee members" to be present on the spot for the vote. Later, chaired by Wang Chin-ping, "president of the legislative yuan", voting was carried out in order of the "Tsai Tung-jung version", the Taiwan Solidarity Union version", the "DPP version", the "non-party affiliation union version" and the "Kuomintang and People First party version".

At the very beginning, Tsai Tung-jung put forward his provisional motion, demanding revocation of his "referendum law draft". But his demand was rejected by the same number of votes after it was put to vote twice. Immediately afterwards, the "legislative yuan" put the most controversial "article concerning reunification or independence", article on "flag, anthem, name and territorial change", to voting, the result was that 14 people voted for, 175 others abstained, the overwhelming majority of the DPP "legislative committee members" cast the votes of abstention. Later, after voting twice, the article that "listed constitution in referendum" as contained in the "DPP version" was also vetoed. After several hours counting from four o'clock in the afternoon, the "referendum law" of the "Kuomintang Party and People First Party" was passed with 114 votes for and 96 against among the 210 attendees. Thereafter, the DPP put forward its reconsideration proposal, but was again defeated. Thus far, the "referendum law" farce ended. Its main contents follow:

First, adopting the article concerning "referendum applicable items", including the re-decision of law, the formulation of legislative principle, the formulation or re-decision of major policies, and the re-decision on the amendment to the constitution". Thus ruling out "flag, name and territorial change".

Second, concerning "referendum competent organization". The article concerning "a hearing to be held by the existing central electoral committee" as contained in the "DPP version" was vetoed; the article of the "Kuomintang Party and People First Party version", i.e., "a referendum examination committee" set up in accordance with the proportion of political parties, was passed.

Third, concerning "referendum mobilization right". The article concerning the "legislative yuan having the mobilization right to referendum" as contained in the "DPP version" was voted down, while the related article in the "Kuomintang Party and People First Party version", i.e., "the people", and the "national assembly" having "the referendum mobilization right" was adopted. And

Fourth, Concerning "defensive referendum". The contents of the article of the "DPP version" were: "the country is subject to external threat, thus arousing worries about change in sovereignty, the president, after a resolution made at an administrative yuan meeting, shall put the matter concerning state security to referendum." Public opinion pointed out that the passage of this article was the sole consolation to the "DPP" in its crushing defeat.

In addition, the "Kuomintang Party and the People First Party" agreed that referendum and island-wide election be carried out on the same day".

Taiwan Strait situation hard to be relaxed in a short time
Analysts point out that the result is closely associated with Chen Shui-bian's "Taiwan independence" conspiracy, with the election situation of the "blue" and "green" camps on the Island as well as with the electoral tactics.

Since the "blue camp" of Lien Chan and Sung Chuyu was formed into an army, the supporting rate of poll once led Chen Shui-bian by 10 percentage points. However, through making a great noise about the topic of "referendum constitution", "Taiwan independence" forces, to some extent, diverted the islanders' dissatisfaction with the economic depression, they even slapped the labels of "anti-reform", "anti-democracy" "showing no respect for Taiwan's popular will" on the "blue" army which opposed "referendum". Through conducting a series of "Taiwan independence" activities, the DPP reversed the electoral situation on the Island, causing a decline in the rate of supporting Lien Chan and Sung Chu-yu who thus lagged behind Chen Shui-bian for the first time.

Regarding this, the "blue" army immediately changed its stand, changing defensive into offensive. First, it actively took over the topic of "referendum legislation", fought for possession of the commanding height of "referendum" and "revision of constitution"; second, it compelled Chen Shui-bian to make clear his attitude regarding whether he would really conduct "independence referendum", and laid bare Chen's plot of pushing for "referendum"; and third, quickly shaking off the "green" army's haggling over the topic of "referendum" and "constitution", thereby creating conditions for playing "the economic life card" in the next step and winning over the intermediate voters.

Analysts hold that although the "referendum law" does not contain articles relating to "independence referendum", its impacts on the island's political situation and cross-Strait relations are evident.

Firstly, so-called defensive referendum actually is disguised "independence referendum", which means taking a very dangerous step toward "Taiwan independence". It can be anticipated that the tense situation in the Taiwan Straits can hardly be relaxed within a short period of time.

Secondly, "Taiwan independence" elements would thereby wantonly advertise for "referendum self-determination", foster "Taiwan independence awareness", incite "Taiwan independence" popular will, thus creating obstacles to peaceful reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. This will inevitably drag Taiwan general public into the disastrous vortex.

This article, appeared on Page 16 of Global Times, November 28, was written by this newspaper's guest correspondent Zhang Yiyao and translated by People's Daily Online.


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






Comment: Referendum issue still needs close attention

Taiwan passes watered-down referendum bill 

Don't overplay tricks: commentary





>> Full Coverage

 


Two Japanese diplomats killed in Iraq identified ( 3 Messages)

Developing corporate culture is key to global strategy ( 3 Messages)

16 percent of Chinese wives beaten by husband: survey ( 4 Messages)

China ceases diplomatic relations with Kiribati ( 6 Messages)

Hillary Clinton arrives in Baghdad hot on heels of Bush ( 5 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved