Taipei, Dec. 4 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday that his administration's planned "defensive referendum" is primarily aimed at maintaining Taiwan's present status quo and has nothing to do with the "independence versus unification" debate. "We hope the referendum can help consolidate our people's psychological defenses, draw world attention to mainland China's military threat to Taiwan and let the other side of the Taiwan Strait understand the common desire of the Taiwan people," Chen said.
While carrying out the "defensive referendum" plan, Chen went on, his administration will definitely abide by the "four noes plus one" pledge.
Chen made the above remarks during a meeting with U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingman (D-N.M.), who arrived in Taipei a day earlier to look into Taiwan's high-tech development and energy supply-demand situation.
Noting that referendum legislation is part of his administration's efforts to strengthen and consolidate Taiwan's young democracy, Chen said the ultimate goal of the "defensive referendum" is to defend the status quo and protect it from being changed.
Article 17 of Taiwan's newly passed referendum law empowers the president to initiate a referendum on national security issues in the event of an external threat. The threat that could trigger a defensive referendum is tacitly seen as coming from the mainland.
During his meeting with Sen. Bingaman, Chen said mainland China has refused to renounce the threat to use force against Taiwan and has actively expanded its military budget and stepped up its military buildup.
Chen said the people of Taiwan must know that mainland China has deployed 496 tactical guided missiles aimed at Taiwan within 600 kilometers of Taiwan's shorelines.
Acknowledging that Taiwan faces a serious internal problem of being deficient in a sense of crisis, Chen said he hopes to enhance local people's awareness of the magnitude of mainland China's threat and to forge a national consensus on self-defense through a "defensive referendum."
Moreover, Chen continued, the planned referendum is aimed at pushing countries around the world, particularly those in the Asia-Pacific, to pay more heed to mainland China's military threat. "Beijing's missile deployment is not only a threat to Taiwan, it also poses a threat to peace and stability in the entire Asia-Pacific region," he added.
In addition, Chen said he hopes the referendum can help mainland China understand the common desire of the people of Taiwan. "It is extremely important that Beijing listens to Taiwan's mainstream public opinion," he noted.
Stressing that the majority of the Taiwan people want peace and loathe missiles, Chen said the planned "defensive referendum" is by no means designed to change Taiwan's present status quo. "The vote is aimed at sustaining the status quo and deepening our democratic system. We are devoted to pursuing lasting peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, " he said, adding that the "defensive referendum" will neither breach his "four noes plus one" pledge nor touch on the "independence versus unification" issue.
Douglas Paal, director of the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan, which represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, was also present at the meeting.
During the meeting, Chen lauded Sen. Bingaman for his long-time efforts to promote substantive Taiwan-U.S. relations. Taiwan is now New Mexico's fourth largest export market, indicating close trade and economic ties between Taiwan and Bingaman's home state, Chen said.
Bingama, a four-term senator, is accompanied by Dr. Robert Simon, the Democratic Party chief of staff in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Dr. Jeffery Nelson, an adviser to the U.S. Sandia National Laboratory, on his current visit. They will look into Taiwan's latest developments in nanotechnology and liquid crystal technology. Chen said he hopes the visit will further boost bilateral exchanges in these new technological fields.