China blasts Taiwan for ‘dangerous provocation’

BEIJING: China blasted on Saturday Taiwan’s president for a “dangerous provocation” over his plan for a “defensive referendum”. Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian’s proposal for a plebiscite in March is not in accordance with a previous pledge not to promote a referendum to change the status quo, the People’s Daily said in its overseas edition. While reports of the planned “defensive referendum” have circulated for days, details about what exactly the Taiwan voters will be asked about have only started to emerge. President Chen said in an interview with The New York Times published Friday that the referendum will be to demand China withdraw ballistic missiles targeting the island and promise not to use force against it. The comments could reignite tensions between China and Taiwan just as Premier Wen is preparing to depart Sunday for a three-day visit to the United States. The People’s Daily editorial was not in response to Chen’s remarks in the interview, and Chinese officials were not immediately available Saturday for comments on the specific contents of the proposed referendum. The People’s Daily editorial said China’s hope is for peaceful reunification with Taiwan because the island’s population are “compatriots of the same flesh and blood”. —AFP

Home | Foreign