Print Mail Wikipedia DPP pushes law against China threat COUNTER-LEGISLATION: The DPP will release a bill today that would give the president the power to act against China without prior legislative approval
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Monday, Mar 14, 2005,Page 1 Stepping up its opposition to China's "anti-secession" law, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is expected to unveil today a draft bill giving the president the power to take "non-peaceful" action or other necessary measures, including referendums, without the permission of the legislature in order to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty and territory. The draft law mandates that the president must report to the legislature on any such measures within 30 days. China's National People's Congress (NPC) is scheduled to pass its "anti-secession law" today. While the DPP is scheduled to make public its "anti-invasion" law today, the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) has proposed an "anti-annexation" law. The DPP's bill was drafted by Trong Chai (蔡同榮), Sandy Chuang (莊和子), Wang Shu-hui (王淑慧), Chiang Chao-yi (江昭儀), Lin Kuo-ching (林國慶), Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) and DPP caucus whip Peter Lin (林進興). Lin said his caucus will hold an international press conference at 2pm today to introduce the draft law to over 70 local and foreign media representatives. Although only 30 signatures are required to make the petition valid, Lin said that his caucus has collected more than 50 signatures from lawmakers. They will submit the proposed law at tomorrow's plenary legislative session. The DPP's seven-article draft states that the Taiwan issue is not a part of China's domestic affairs but an international matter, and that it is necessary and urgent to swiftly enact counter-legislation to deter China's annexation efforts. In order to maintain a peaceful and stable relationship between Taiwan and China, the draft proposes the government adopt the following four measures. It should take appropriate measures to push cross-strait exchanges to facilitate mutual understanding and trust between the people of Taiwan and China; push exchanges and cooperation in the areas such as trade, culture and sports; push for joint crime-fighting efforts and other projects conducive to strengthening peace, coexistence and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and provide necessary assistance to private organizations or groups launching activities to counter the "anti-secession law." The DPP's draft is similar to the TSU's "anti-annexation" law, which will be changed to an "anti-invasion peace" law today. Stating that Taiwan has existed alongside China since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on Oct. 1, 1949, the TSU's 11-article draft states that "Taiwan is already an independent sovereign state and it is not an issue for Taiwan to declare independence or seek separation from China." The draft also says that the government should call a referendum and amend the Constitution to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty if the cross-strait status quo is threatened. The president can resort to non-peaceful means to resist China's annexation, the draft states. TSU caucus whip Lo Chih-ming ( 羅志明 ) told the Taipei Times yesterday that his caucus will also hold a press conference at 2pm today to launch a signature drive, urging President Chen to initiative a "defensive referendum" to counter the "anti-secession" law. also see story:
Dislike of China's law widespread: poll
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Two Taiwanese political parties of the independence-leaning "pan-green alliance" unveiled new bills today in response to the new "anti-secession" law passed earlier this week by the People's Republic of China.

The Democratic Progressive Party is expected to introduce a bill giving the President of the Republic of China the power to take "non-peaceful" action, or other actions, to "safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty and territory".  The draft version of the law mandates that the Taiwanese President must report to the legislature on any such actions within thirty days.

DPP caucus whip Peter Lin said that although the signatures of only thirty lawmakers are required to make the law valid, over fifty have already been gathered.

The seven-article draft law states that the Taiwan issue is not a part of China's internal affairs, but rather that it is an international matter between nations.  It goes on to state that it is necessary and urgent to quickly enact counter-legislation to deter Mainland China's annexation efforts.  It further calls for increased trust and understanding between the two sides, including greater trade, sporting, and cultural links.

The Taiwanese Solidarity Union also proposed a new "anti-annexation" law.  The eleven article draft states that "Taiwan is already an independent sovereign state and it is not an issue for Taiwan to declare independence or seek separation from China".  It goes on to state that the government should call a referendum to amend the Taiwanese constitution to safeguard Taiwanese sovereignty.  The draft law would also give the Taiwanese President authorisation to resort to "non-peaceful means" to resist Chinese aggression.

Taiwanese independence has been a thorny issue in recent years, as some Taiwanese politicians insist that the democratic island is a sovereign nation, and Chinese authorities insist that it is a part of the PRC.