Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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June 13, 2007

China Blasts Taiwan President's Support for UN Referendum
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=17CF44F:A6F02AD83191E16017A3470D207DED019574F7DCC14957C0 Chinese official
says Chen Shui-bian's decision to back referendum on whether island
should seek United Nations membership could jeopardize peace,
stability in region China has lashed out at Taiwan's
independence-leaning President Chen Shui-bian for supporting a
referendum on whether the island should seek membership in the United
Nations. From Beijing, Daniel Schearf reports China's Taiwan Affairs
Office says any such move would not only harm China-Taiwan relations,
but also jeopardize peace and stability in the region.









Chen Shui-bian (file)The spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office,
Yang Yi, told reporters Taiwan's president is using the referendum for
political gain and to move Taiwan towards what he called independence
from China. He says the proposed referendum will create tensions
between the two sides.

"The purpose of the move is to incite conflict between the two sides
and cheat Taiwan people ... so Chen Shui-bian can trick votes from
Taiwan people and reach de jure independence," Yang said.









Yang Yi (file)Yang says supporters of independence have already made
the situation in the Taiwan Strait dangerous, but, he says, if Taiwan
applies for recognition at the U.N. as a country, things will get
worse.



"If the situation continues, it will severely impact cross-Strait
relations, harm compatriots on both sides, and seriously put in danger
peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and Asia-Pacific region,"
Yang said.

China and Taiwan split in 1949 at the end of a civil war, but Beijing
still claims the island as part of its territory. It has threatened to
take Taiwan by force if the island declares formal independence.



Yang says China has made preparations to deter what he called any
"separatist" activity, but he did not elaborate on what kind of
preparations Beijing has made.



China has been adding missiles to its arsenal of several hundred aimed
at Taiwan. In March, Beijing announced a 17.8 percent boost in
military spending, the highest increase in more than a decade.



Chinese officials maintain the boost is to increase salaries for
underpaid soldiers and upgrade equipment.

But the United States and other countries are suspicious of China's
reasons for the military build-up. The United States also says China's
real military spending may be three times higher than reported.



The United States has vowed to defend Taiwan if China attacks the
island, and is therefore concerned about moves on either side of the
strait that would upset peace in the region.



Taiwan has applied numerous times for U.N. recognition since it lost
its seat to Beijing in 1971, but China's influence in the organization
has prevented Taiwan from succeeding.


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