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Q1. What is the significance and purpose of Taiwan’s pursuit of a referendum?
A referendum is the realization of universal democratic values. The people can exercise their fundamental rights as masters of their homeland and decide the direction of future national development. Many countries with a longstanding history of democracy, such as Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany, have held referendums at both national and local levels. In the newly democratized countries of Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, referendums have played a key role in their arduous struggle for freedom and democracy. Many of these referendums have contributed much to regional peace and ethnic reconciliation. In the resolution of the conflict in Northern Ireland, for example, a referendum successfully consolidated support among the people and brought about reconciliation and peace. These examples illustrate that Taiwan is not alone in the pursuit of freedom, democracy and peace through referendum.
The referendum is an important milestone on Taiwan’s road to democracy. It is a sacred and inalienable basic right of the Taiwan people. In the face of the ever more serious threat from China, the people of Taiwan should be allowed to express their will and determination to defend their homeland and pursue genuine and permanent peace across the Taiwan Strait. Not only does this conform to the spirit of the Referendum Act, but it is also imperative and legitimate.
Q2: Why can’t public opinion polls take the place of referendums?
Referendums and public opinion polls are entirely different. It would be just as absurd as using the results of a public opinion poll to decide who will serve as president.
There are at least four major differences between referendums and public opinion polls:
1. The outcome of a referendum is legally binding, while a poll serves only as a reference for the administration of government policy.
2. A referendum requires voters to go to the polls to cast their ballots. It is a form of political participation. A public opinion poll, however, involves only passive answers to questions.
3. A referendum allows for the proper expression of the will of the people. A public opinion poll, however, is based on random sampling and the responses of a small minority. A certain degree of marginal error is unavoidable.
4. The holding of a referendum will entail public discussion through which assenting and dissenting viewpoints can be expressed and a majority decision can be formed within society. A public opinion poll, however, involves only individual responses, and there is no process for discussing the two sides of an issue.
Q3. What is the significance of holding the national defense and equal negotiation referendums?
Taiwan faces the world’s most severe missile threat. We need to hold the national defense referendum to remind the people of the gravity of this missile threat from China and the necessity of boosting our anti-missile capability. The referendum will also serve to galvanize the will of the people and announce to China and the international community that the people of Taiwan will not be cowed, will not bow to intimidation, and will not waver in our resolve.
The equal negotiation referendum will allow the people of Taiwan to clearly express their expectations to actively develop cross-strait relations and promote a framework of peace and stability for interaction. These two issues matter much to Taiwan’s national security and major development. Through the referendum, we may reconcile divergent views and forge a consensus in order to demonstrate the will and resolve of the people of Taiwan to strengthen national defense and pursue peace.
Q4: Is the Peace Referendum legitimate? Is Taiwan currently “threatened by an external force?” Is there concern that the nation’s sovereignty might be changed?
The Constitution charges the president with the solemn responsibility of safeguarding the nation's sovereignty. Article 17 of the Referendum Act stipulates that when the nation is threatened by an external force that could cause a change in the nation's sovereignty, the president may, through a resolution of the Executive Yuan Council, refer a matter crucial to national security to the citizens for a referendum. Therefore, the president's promotion of the March 20th Peace Referendum conforms entirely to the stipulations of the Constitution and the law.
China has repeatedly sought to inhibit our diplomatic activities, deny our sovereignty, and oppose the display of our national flag. Even the performance of our national anthem by a local singer became the target of Beijing’s interference. When SARS hit Taiwan and we urgently needed WHO assistance, China's representatives went so far as to declare publicly: "Who cares about you?!"
China is now rapidly increasing the deployment of missiles against Taiwan, adding one missile every six days. It is predicted that by 2005, there will be more than 600 guided missiles targeted at Taiwan. In addition, China frequently holds military exercises simulating attacks on Taiwan. These actions greatly increase the threat to the survival of the people of Taiwan. Faced with such a grim situation, we can no longer wait. We must use the March 20th referendum to build a consensus on strengthening our anti-missile capability, raise confidence, and express our aspirations to negotiate with China on an equal basis and establish peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Q5: Why must the referendum be held on the day of the presidential election?
According to Paragraph 2 of Article 17 of the Referendum Act, matters submitted by the president for a referendum are not subject to the restrictions on the announcement period under Article 18 or the requirements of Article 24 that stipulate that a referendum shall be held between one and six months from the time of the announcement of a referendum case. Because the law does not explicitly prohibit it, it is legally sound and valid to hold the Peace Referendum together with the presidential election.
In the absence of legal objections, we maintain that it would be better to hold the referendum together with the presidential election for the following reasons:
1. Examples of referendums: There are many precedents among democratic nations for referendums coinciding with major elections. Examples include the US states of California and Washington, Australia (1974 and 1984 parliamentary elections), New Zealand (1993 and 1999 parliamentary elections), and Ireland (1997 presidential election).
2. Purpose of referendums: Referendums are held to resolve disputes or establish consensus among citizens. The more people who participate in the referendum, the more balanced are the views expressed and the more fully is public opinion reflected. When Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Poland held referendums on joining the European Union in 2003, two days were allowed for polling, the purpose being none other than to seek a greater base for public opinion. As voter turnout for previous presidential elections has always exceeded 75 percent, the holding of the referendum together with the presidential election will heighten interest in voting, expand the effects of political participation, and help forge consensus among citizens.
3. Reducing the cost to society: Given the complexity and scale of holding a referendum, and the considerable manpower and materials required, it would be best to hold the referendum on the day of the presidential election in order to reduce the cost to society, avoid excessive social mobilization and boost administrative efficiency.
Q6. Will Taiwan’s pursuit of the Peace Referendum change the status quo unilaterally, or influence security in the Taiwan Strait and the stability of the Asia-Pacific region?
We would like to reiterate to the world: Taiwan’s status quo will not be changed, nor should it be changed unilaterally. Of course, we will not seek to change the current situation through referendum or any other measures. The significance of this March 20th referendum lies in maintaining the status quo of Taiwan, and in preventing it from being changed unilaterally. We will not change the status quo now. Should the Beijing authorities want to change the status quo unilaterally, however, the 23 million people of Taiwan should have the right to say ”no.”
The referendum is an important link in the process of Taiwan’s democratization. Taiwan’s democracy belongs to the world, and the advancement of Taiwan’s democracy is a source of common pride for all humanity. Taiwan’s desire to strengthen national defense is an issue of self-defense, not a provocation. Our promotion of the establishment of a peaceful and stable framework for interaction across the strait is motivated by our wish to achieve a more proper foundation and institutionalized guarantees for lasting peace in the Taiwan Strait. In other words, the most important foundation for ensuring that the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait will not be changed is for the two sides to establish a framework of peace and stability that makes cross-strait relations more predictable and manageable. We believe that only the genuine implementation of democratic reforms that will consolidate and extend democracy in this land of Taiwan will bring truly lasting peace. Democracy and security will never be mutually exclusive.
  
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