Resolution asserts Taiwan’s separate identity from China

TAIWAN’S ruling Democratic Progressive Party passed a resolution yesterday asserting the island’s separate identity from rival China and calling for a referendum on Taiwan’s sovereignty.

The resolution for a “normal country” calls for general use of Taiwan as the island’s name, without specifically abolishing its current formal name, the Republic of China. It also calls for the enactment of a new constitution, but gives no specific deadline for either that or the referendum.

The resolution, which passed 250-73, could rile China, which has repeatedly threatened war if Taiwan formalises its de facto independence.

“We should rectify our name to Taiwan and enact a new constitution as soon as possible,” the resolution says. “A public referendum should be held at an appropriate time to underscore Taiwan as a sovereign state.”

The congress comes ahead of a presidential election next March as DPP candidate Frank Hsieh faces off against the popular Ma Ying-jeou of the opposition Nationalist Party, which favours eventual unification with the mainland.

The resolution’s adoption follows President Chen Shui-bian’s unsuccessful campaign this year to seek rejoining the UN under the name of Taiwan.

Chen has also pushed to hold a referendum to back the government UN bid to coincide with the presidential election.

But in setting the DPP’s policy toward China, Chen backed off and decided to keep Taiwan’s status ambiguous in the resolution, fearing an outright call to change the island’s official name to Taiwan could hurt Hsieh at the poll.