The KMT’s stance toward the “Join the UN” and “Return to the UN” plebiscites

The KMT’s stance toward the “Join the UN” and “Return to the UN” plebiscites

Sources: The KMT Central Standing Committee

1. Boycott the No. 5 “Join the UN” plebiscite
President Chen Shui-bian pushed for the “Join the UN” plebiscite without really wanting to go after Taiwan’s admission to the UN or really wanting a plebiscite per se. President Chen’s real intention is to use the plebiscite to manipulate the Presidential election. President Chen’s move has raised the eyebrows of the international community, which regards it as a serious provocative attempt to change the official title of the country and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Even the US, our most important ally, showed great displeasure over this. The situation has posed unpredictable danger to the Taiwan Strait and made Taiwan even more isolated and marginalized in the international community, sabotaging the security and interests of the 23 million people on Taiwan.

2. Support the No. 6 “Return to the UN” plebiscite
The “Return to the UN” plebiscite would neither jeopardize the Taiwan Strait nor sabotage Taiwan’s friendship with the US. On the contrary, it is a pragmatic, flexible, and forceful expression of Taiwan’s willingness and resolution to return to the UN and join other important international organizations.

(Message to voters: Please make it clear to election staff in polling stations on the day of Presidential election that you will accept only the No. 6 “Return to the UN” plebiscite ballot and reject the No. 5 “Join the UN” plebiscite ballot in order to avoid confusion.)

3. Understand and completely respect voters who decide to boycott both plebiscites
Boycotting both plebiscites would be a good way to counter President Chen’s repeated attempts to tie the plebiscite to the Presidential election and turn the plebiscite into an election campaign tool. It is understandable for voters to express their lack of confidence in President Chen by boycotting the plebiscites whose nature has been distorted completely by President Chen.

The Central Election Commission intends to create confusion and disputes with its arrangements (by producing ballots of the same color for both plebiscites, by arranging for voters to receive the two plebiscite ballots from the same desk, and by asking voters to put the two plebiscite ballots into the same ballot box). One wonders what is the true motive behind these arrangements.

4. Support the Legislature’s adoption of a resolution regarding Taiwan’s admission to the UN and other international organizations

The seventh Legislature represents the fresh popular mandate. The KMT is at this moment pushing for the passage of an important resolution in the Legislature with a view to pressing the government to keep pushing for the march of this country to the UN and other international organizations in a pragmatic manner. This resolution, despite facing objection from the DPP legislative caucus, will certainly win passage and become one of the country’s most important policies as it has already gained the co-sponsorship of more than two thirds of the lawmakers and the endorsement of all eight legislative committees.

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