The Taiwanese people are not afraid of Chinese threats and intimidation, and they take actions to prove their resolve to join the UN
China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) today (September 16, 2007) made malicious criticism against a protest march held in Taiwan to support Taiwan's referendum on joining the United Nations (UN). In response, the MAC expresses strong protest over the TAO’s statement. The MAC indicates that the Taiwanese people’s spontaneous march held on September 15, 2007 has received a high degree of international attention, and various sectors of the global community have gradually understood the resolve of the Taiwanese people to seek UN membership by peaceful, rational and democratic means. The Chinese authorities, however, have repeatedly disregarded the reality and public opinion response in Taiwan, in an attempt to muddle-headedly fabricate erroneous lies and spread misunderstanding and erroneous information to mislead the international community. China is the very culprit that brings cross-strait relations to a dangerous brink.
The MAC emphasizes that the Chinese authorities are unable to face up to the fact that Taiwan pursues democracy and wants to join the international community. Over recent times, Beijing has spared no efforts to vilify and defame Taiwan's referendum on UN membership in the international arena and in cross-strait activities through various channels. It has intentionally sought to drive a wedge into Taiwan’s society and to obstruct the international community from supporting Taiwan. The MAC indicates that China’s wishful attempts to treat the Taiwanese people’s democratically-elected president as someone alienated from Taiwan’s public opinion will not only be proven futile, but will also expose China's ignorance of democracy. The September 15 march only further demonstrates that the ruling and opposition political parties and general public in Taiwan are not afraid of China's threats and intimidation, and that they have taken actions to show support for Taiwan's resolve to join the UN. The Chinese authorities should clearly realize this fact, accept the status quo that Taiwan is an independent sovereign country as early as possible, and respect the basic rights of the Taiwanese people to decide the future of their country.
The MAC reiterates that China has not only incessantly increased its military deployment against Taiwan in recent times, but it has also actively attempted to conduct anti-Taiwan military exercises in its neighboring areas. Such actions have already seriously sabotaged regional peace and the stability of cross-strait relations. China has under various pretexts suppressed Taiwan's efforts to join the UN, which is simply aimed at securing an excuse for pursuing regional hegemony and annexing Taiwan. The MAC indicates that the September 15 march is not only a reflection of the fact that the Taiwanese people have taken the initiative in demonstrating their collective will, but it is also a concrete appeal to protest China's incessant military threats against Taiwan's democracy. In March next year, the Taiwanese people will further demonstrate Taiwan's resolve to join the UN by democratic means. The MAC urges that the Chinese authorities not be afraid of democracy and not misjudge public opinion in Taiwan. China should immediately stop its provocative actions of militarily threatening and internationally suppressing Taiwan. Otherwise, China will bear the serious consequences of its own erroneous policies.