Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday he assumed the presidency under the Republic of China's Constitution.
Chen made the remarks while meeting with a group of U.S. scholars and experts on cross-Taiwan Strait affairs, headed by John Tkacik, a research fellow with the Washington-based think tank the Heritage Foundation.
"It is not disputed that I was sworn in as the ROC's 10th president on May 20, 2000 in line with the nation's Constitution, " Chen said, adding that he is obligated to safeguard national sovereignty, dignity and security as well as work for the well-being of the people of Taiwan in terms of constitutional provisions.
Chen said Beijing issued a white paper during the run-up to Taiwan's 2000 presidential election in which it claimed that the ROC had been dead since 1949 due to the loss of its international status.
Beijing's claim is wrong, Chen said, adding that the ROC has continued to exist on Taiwan since 1949.
Stressing that Taiwan is an independent, sovereign state, Chen said its current national title is the Republic of China. Therefore, he noted, it is a stark reality that there is one state on each side of the Taiwan Strait at the moment, namely, the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China -- mainland China's official title.
Chen went on to say that his administration is determined to hold the nation's first-ever referendum on certain policy issues before or on the day of the island's next presidential election -- March 20, 2004.
The issues will include whether construction on the island's Fourth Nuclear Power Plant should be halted or continued as well as whether Taiwan should join the World Health Organization (WHO), Chen said. "We want to hold a referendum on our WHO bid mainly because of Beijing's opposition to our participation in the world health watchdog body. We want to demonstrate to the world our people's unanimous desire to join the WHO through a referendum. So long as Beijing stops blocking our bid, we'll not include the issue on the list of topics subject to a referendum," he explained.
Chen further said the planned referendum will not touch on any sensitive issues regarding Taiwan's future -- independence or unification with the mainland.
Meanwhile, Chen said he plans to start negotiations with Beijing for opening direct cross-strait transportations links after next year's presidential election. And if all goes well, he said, direct cross-strait shipping and air links could become a reality by the end of 2004.