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Taiwan's
Declaration of Referendum Re-ignites Tensions with China |
Posted:
12.09.03
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The president of Taiwan, a small island off the coast of China,
recently called on the Chinese government to formally agree not
to use force against the island republic, re-igniting tensions
in the region.
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Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian announced late last week that
he planned a referendum in March -- an island-wide vote demanding
that China remove ballistic missiles aimed at the island and renounce
the use of force against Taiwan.
 Technically
part of China, Taiwan lies 100 miles off the coast and has very
different political and economic systems than the Communist mainland.
Although constitutionally barred from declaring legal independence
from China, Taiwan's democratically elected legislature passed
a bill last month that allowed the president to call a referendum
if the country is "facing an external threat which may jeopardize
national sovereignty."
Chen, who is seeking reelection in March, has said that the missiles
constitute such a threat. He also added that the referendum would
not involve the issue of independence but that it would reduce
conflict in the region.
"Some argue that holding such a defensive referendum might
send our children to the front line," he said. "In fact,
the opposite is true."
 President
Bush, meeting in Washington with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, responded
that he does not support the referendum or any moves that would
further Taiwan's attempts at independence.
"We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan
to change the status quo," Mr. Bush said, "and the comments
and actions made by the leader of Taiwan indicate that he may
be willing to make decisions unilaterally, to change the status
quo, which we oppose."
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One-China
policy |
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Chen's action has re-ignited the ongoing diplomatic and military
debate between China and Taiwan. On Dec. 3, China said it would
pay any price to keep the "one China" policy in effect.
That policy states that China and Taiwan are one nation and should
be treated as such.
"Taiwan independence means war," Maj. Gen. Peng Guangqian
told the New China News Agency. "This is the word of 1.3
billion people, and we will keep our word."
The Taiwan issue has long complicated the relationship between
the United States and China. In recent weeks Chinese leaders have
said that U.S.-China relations are threatened by America's "ambiguous"
policy toward Taiwan. China views Taiwan as a breakaway republic
-- not a separate state -- and has, at times, appeared ready to
use its military to force the island to reunify with the mainland.
The U.S. believes that any reunification needs to be achieved
diplomatically and without force.
During his meeting with President Bush, the Chinese premier softened
his government's stance, saying that China would pursue a peaceful
reunification with Taiwan "as long as a glimmer of hope"
exists.
However he went on to say that the Chinese government "respects
the desire of people in Taiwan for democracy, but we must point
out that the (Taiwanese leaders) are only using democracy as an
excuse and attempt to resort to defensive referendums to split
Taiwan away from China. Such separatist activities are what the
Chinese side can absolutely not accept."
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U.S. - Taiwan
relations |
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The history of the Taiwan issue dates back to 1949, when Communist
forces, led by Mao Tse-tung, took over mainland China and over
2 million Nationalists fled to the small island that would become
Taiwan.
The Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek, established a government
using the 1947 Chinese constitution. In an effort to prevent the
spread of Communism, the U.S. government recognized Taiwan as
the one true China. This recognition eventually led to financial
and military aid, as well as promises to defend Taiwan against
the Communists. The two countries signed a mutual security pact
in 1954.
Throughout the 1960s, more and more countries began to recognize
the Communist mainland government, known as the People's Republic
of China. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly voted to
give Taiwan's seat on the Security Council to the mainland government.
By 1979, the United States also switched courses and recognized
the People's Republic of China, in part as a way to draw power
away from the Soviet Union.
At first, the United States severed official diplomatic relations
with Taiwan, accepted Beijing's "one China" mandate
and abandoned its defense pact with the island. However, within
months, the U.S. Congress reinstated unofficial economic ties
with Taiwan, including the sale of arms and military defense of
the island in what is known as the U.S.-Taiwan Relations Act.
Although Washington and Taiwan do not currently have official
ties, Chen received a warm reception during a recent trip to the
United States, angering Chinese officials.
--
Annie Schleicher, NewsHour Extra
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This [teen] is an immigrant from Mexico, and he works long hours at a local farm milking dairy cows, five hours per milking, twice a day.
