Taiwan presidential favourite lashes 'arrogant' Wen
TAIPEI (AFP) — Taiwan's presidential frontrunner accused Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao of arrogance Tuesday for saying the island's future should be decided by all the Chinese people.
In unusually strong comments four days ahead of the election, Ma Ying-jeou said Taiwan's future would be decided by its people alone, without Beijing's interference.
"We voice our strongest protest at Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's ruthless, irrational, arrogant, foolish and self-righteous comment," Ma told reporters. "It disregards mainstream public opinion in Taiwan."
He said Taiwan was a sovereign nation whose future should be decided by its 23 million people "without the interference of Chinese communists."
China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949, and Beijing has long insisted the two sides must eventually reunify, by force if necessary.
Although he said China would continue to work for peaceful reunification, Wen reiterated Beijing's determination to squash any attempts to establish an independent Taiwan.
"I reiterate again that matters concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be decided by all the Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots," Wen said.
"Anyone trying to split Taiwan from the motherland will never succeed and is doomed to failure," he told a press conference at the close of China's annual session of parliament.
On a campaign stop in central Taiwan, Ma reiterated that his Kuomintang -- traditionally seen as pro-Beijing -- wanted to maintain Taiwan's status quo.
It means no independence for the self-governing island but no reunification either, and no use of force.
"Our policy is always to protect Taiwan's interests and the welfare of the people... We think maintaining the status quo would best achieve that end."
Wen also said peace would be threatened if Taiwan's electorate approved a referendum on joining the United Nations, as that would imply nationhood.
He said a successful referendum would "destroy the peace across the strait and in the Asian region" and endanger the interests of both sides.
There are in fact two rival referendums on UN membership which will be held at the same time as Saturday's election.
One has been put forward by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, under which the island would join the world body under the name Taiwan. The second, considered less sensitive, would have it join under any acceptable name.
However, neither is expected to get the 50 percent participation rate that would make a result valid.
