Taiwan's "Legislative Yuan" put to the vote yesterday a bill on referendum. When the legislature came to vote on the clause concerning "national flag, national anthem, national title and territorial changes", only 190 members attended the session, among whom 14 voted for the bill while 175 abstained. Therefore, the majority of the legislators from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) abstained from voting.

When voting on the milder version put forward by the Kuomintang and the People First Party, the pan-blue camp, with its overwhelming majority, pulled through. As a result, the "Administrative Yuan" version was aborted.

The Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) of the State Council warned recently that if the island's "Legislative Yuan" passed the referendum law that placed no limit on issues concerning "national flags", "national title" and even "territory", it would amount to providing legal grounds for Taiwan independence. To that, the mainland would respond strongly without hesitation, the TAO stressed.

When it comes to national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese Government and people do not turn tail, do not compromise and do not give in. They do not tolerate, do not condone and do not sit by and look on separatist moves.

Deterred by the stern stance of the Chinese Government and people, the bulk of the DPP legislators pulled back before it was too late and averted a disaster for themselves. However, You Shi-kun, premier of the "Executive Yuan", said he would ask the law-making body to reconsider the bill and put it to another vote if the final version of the referendum law did not tally with the expectations of the executive.

Whether the Taiwan authorities will proceed on the road to separation remains to be seen.

According to the United Nations' Declaration on Granting Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples issued in 1960, only colonized countries can enjoy the right of self-determination and achieve independence via referendum. Since time immemorial, the island of Taiwan has been part of China and not a colony.

It is, therefore, not entitled by any international law to stage a referendum to determine whether it is to become independent or not.

The separatist drive for referendum has overstepped the central government's limits of tolerance as well as those of 1.3 billion Chinese people. Not one country in the world would tolerate separatist elements within itself.

For example, in the 19th century, when the southern states of America wanted to break away from the union to re-form as an independent state through self-determination, the US Government lost no time in waging war against them, thereby maintaining national unity.

Preserving national sovereignty and territorial integrity is the top priority for all countries, and the motherland would not be willing to swallow the bitter fruit of national separation. The Taiwan authorities must understand this clearly.

The mainland government recently notified more than 100 countries through its diplomatic envoys about the severity of the situation on the island and the mainland government's attitude and determination. Such a move by Beijing has never been seen before.

The Taiwan authorities should not think erroneously that since the mainland is facing a critical moment in its economic development and is busily preparing for the Olympic Games and the World Expo that this constitutes a god-sent opportunity for them to declare independence. These Taiwan pro-independence forces should not bark up the wrong tree. Once the island proclaims independence, all 1.3 billion Chinese will be forced to destroy Taiwan separatists at any cost, even if it means immense casualties, serious setbacks for national economic development and giving up the rights to host the Olympic Games and the World Expo.

Chen Shui-bian is using "democracy", "freedom" and "human rights" as bait to lure and coerce the islanders into accepting "referendum" for Taiwan independence. This is equivalent to hijacking Taiwan compatriots to force them onto the separatist bandwagon. Democracy, freedom and human rights are common goals sought after by humanity at large, but they must not be degraded to tools for ambitious, power-thirsty politicians. Nor should they become the pretext for splitting up the motherland and compromising the interests of Taiwan residents.

Had Taiwan passed the unlimited version of the referendum law, its citizens would not have found themselves awash in democracy, freedom and human rights. Instead, such an act would have opened a Pandora's box, letting loose crises, disasters and war.

Moreover, Chen Shui-bian ought not overestimate the reliability of America's "protective umbrella" since the US will not risk its own interests by involving itself in a war for Taiwan separatism.

Washington should uphold its "One China" policy and avoid sending Taiwan pro-independence forces the wrong signal.

(China Daily HK Edition November 28, 2003)