Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian reiterated Tuesday the Taiwan people's desire for long-lasting peace, claiming that what the people of Taiwan are pursuing is genuine peace that can last through generation to generation.
Chen made the remarks at the Presidential Office during a meeting with U.S. House of Representative Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI), a nephew of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
Praising the late President Kennedy as "a real hero who bravely settled the Cuba crisis during the Cold War period for the sake of peace, " Chen said he is sure that Congressman Kennedy fully realizes the deep aspiration for peace of Taiwan's 23 million people, particularly at a time when they are targeted by 496 missiles deployed by Beijing.
The president voiced his admiration for remarks Kennedy made earlier in the day following a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Eugene Chien. Kennedy said he understands that President Chen's plan to hold a referendum March 20 is not tantamount to moving toward Taiwan independence but is rather a firm instance of the Taiwan people's desire to maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Chen told Kennedy that the planned referendum has nothing to do with changing Taiwan's status quo and is by no means a move related to the unification-independence issue, nor will it go against the "five noes" pledge of his 2000 inauguration speech. He asserted that the referendum is only aimed at displaying the Taiwan people's deep desire for peace and full democracy.
Chen also thanked Kennedy for his long-term support for Taiwan, including the efforts he made for the passage of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act and for Taiwan's ongoing efforts to join the World Health Organization. Kennedy was also one of the 416 U.S. congressmen who adopted Resolution 302 in favor of his transit stop in New York en route to Panama late last year, Chen noted.
For his part, Kennedy gave a thumbs up to Chen's determination to confront mainland China's missile threat through a globally recognized democratic practice and he expressed the hope that the entire world will see a change in the mainland one day.
It was Kennedy's first trip to Taiwan since he was elected a House representative for the first time in 1995. He is now serving his fifth term.
Dave Keagan, deputy director of the Taipei office under the American Institute in Taiwan, accompanied Kennedy during the meeting. Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Kau Ying-mao and Vice Secretary-General to the President Joseph Wu were also present.