In the referendums held in tandem with the presidential election on March 22, National Referendum Proposal Nos. 5 and 6 both failed to pass because, although affirmative votes exceeded 50 percent of ballots cast in each referendum, the total number of ballots cast for each proposal did not reach the threshold of 50 percent of registered voters required by the Referendum Act—a requirement more stringent than in most other democracies.

This marks the third time that national referendums have been held on the same day in conjunction with a national election in the Republic of China (Taiwan).

As to the significance of this outcome, the following factors should be kept in mind:

˙ Holding referendums is a core value of democracy.

˙ As an independent, sovereign, peace-loving nation, the Republic of China undoubtedly has the right to be a member of the United Nations according to the UN Charter. There is no disagreement about this among the nation’s political parties.

˙ The government of Taiwan has been promoting UN membership for Taiwan ever since 1993, demonstrating both the continuity of this governmental policy and the consensus of all political parties that pursuing UN membership is in the nation’s best interest.

˙ The referendums proposed by the two major political parties did not differ in principle, but only in strategy. Both proposals called for UN membership for the nation but outlined different methods for pursuing that common goal:
 

• National Proposal No. 5 advocated applying for new UN membership under the name “Taiwan.” 
• National Proposal No. 6 advocated applying for restoration of UN membership under the name “Republic of China,” “Taiwan” or other appropriate name.

˙ Although both failed to pass because the total number of ballots cast for each proposal did not reach the threshold of 50 percent of registered voters (8.66 million), the number of affirmative ballots cast in the two referendums (5.53 million for Proposal No. 5 and 4.96 million Proposal No. 6) each exceeded a majority of votes cast. This outcome affirms the will of the people of Taiwan to enter the United Nations.

˙ In public opinion polls, the great majority of respondents have consistently supported the government’s efforts to join the UN. According to the Executive Yuan’s Mainland Affairs Council, some 80 percent of respondents to public opinion polls have indicated their desire to see Taiwan join the UN.

˙ One of the major political parties contended that the referendums should not be held in conjunction with the presidential election. This may have contributed to the fact that voter turnout in both referendums failed to meet the legal threshold of 50 percent of eligible voters. In this connection, it should be kept in mind that national referendums are a new procedure in Taiwan, and perhaps many people need to learn to take advantage of such opportunities to directly voice their opinions.

˙ In addition to being the common aspiration of our people, UN membership is of great importance for Taiwan’s national security and development.

Hence, despite authoritarian China’s obstructionism, the government of Taiwan shall continue to pursue this goal and to seek the support of the community of progressive democracies in affirming Taiwan’s rightful place in the international community.