Bush rebukes Taiwan over referendum
Taiwan defends referendum plan
AFP, Washington
President George W. Bush delivered a stunning personal rebuke to Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian over his plans for a referendum, in the politically charged setting of talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Wen had travelled to Washington seeking to extract a firm US condemnation of Chen's plan for a March 20 vote critical of Beijing's military posture. "We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo," Bush said, seated with Wen in front of a crackling log fire in the Oval Office. "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." Washington is a strong supporter of democratic Taiwan, and is bound by law to offer it the means of self-defence, but insists it has a right to criticise actions which impinge on stability and its own security. Bush recommitted the United States to the "one-China" policy, and the three joint communiques that are the bedrock of Sino-US relations, then sat back as Wen delivered his own stern warning to Taiwan. "The Chinese government respects the desire of people in Taiwan for democracy," Wen said. "But we must point out that the attempts of Taiwan authorities, headed by Chen Shui-bian, are only using democracy as an excuse and (an) attempt to resort to (a) defensive referendum to split Taiwan away from China. "Such separatist activities are what the Chinese side can absolutely not accept and tolerate." Beijing has repeatedly warned it will use military force against Taiwan, which it sees as a rebel province, if it declares independence. AP from Taipei reported that after receiving his sharpest rebuke from America since taking office three years ago, Taiwan's leader assured Washington yesterday that he had no plans to provoke China by seeking a permanent split with the communist giant. But President Chen Shui-bian refused to back down on the issue that's causing the rare friction with the United States: his plans to hold a March 20 "defensive referendum" demanding that China remove hundreds of missiles pointing at Taiwan. "A defensive referendum is for avoiding war and to help keep the Taiwanese people free of fear," Chen said. "It is also for preserving the status quo" with China. Chen responded to Bush's comments while meeting with visiting Congressman Dan Burton, R-Ind., who is a strong supporter of Taiwan. As he spoke, the defiant Taiwanese president used chopping gestures with his hands to emphasise his points. "We have no intention to change the status quo, and we won't allow the status quo to be changed," Chen said.
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