Taipei, June 23 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian warned the public Monday that Beijing will never stop squeezing Taiwan internationally.
Receiving a group of domestic Lions Club leaders at the Presidential Office, Chen said that Beijing will not abandon its attempts to debase Taiwan's status in the international community and said that the people of Taiwan should avoid being used by the Beijing authorities as an instrument to jeopardize Taiwan's interests.
He expressed his regret that someone was still used by Beijing as an instrument to downgrade Taiwan's international status without any protective preparations having been made.
Although the "individual involved in the incident" has been trying to make amends, the damage he did to Taiwan is irrevocable, Chen said.
On the other hand, the president encouraged the Taiwan Lions Clubs to defend their own and the country's interests when participating in international activities.
The government was greatly concerned over an attempt by the International Association of Lions Clubs to change the title of Taiwan's membership into "Taiwan, China" last year, Chen said.
Although the domestic Lions Clubs obtained the title "MD300-Taiwan" for Taiwan's membership in the Lions Clubs International thanks to a series of efforts by the government and individuals, the international volunteer organization is still under tremendous pressure from Beijing on the Taiwan issue because it hopes to bring mainland China into its organization, the president pointed out.
Taiwan has now more than 37,000 Lions Club members, whose total annual donation to the Lions Clubs International is in the organization's top ten list, Chen noted, adding that their performance is a pride of the people of Taiwan.
Taiwan's Lions Club members should not abandon any opportunity to voice support for Taiwan, the president said.