Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) –Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian today launched the “torch-lit march” a marathon which will last 11 days and cross 25 cities and provinces, organised to promote the request for a seat at the United Nations under Taiwan’s name.
The event starts in Taipei, where deputies from the Democrat’s Party gathered in support of the first marcher, Chen. In all, the torch will travel 1,200 kilometres. A similar event is also being launched today by Kuomintang nationalists, who aim to travel the length of the island by bicycle. The too are pushing for a UN seat, but under the name of “the Republic of China”.
In efforts to increase international interest in the issue, ongoing for many years now, the President has decided to put the question to a popular referendum slated for March 22nd next, the same day as scheduled presidential elections. The issue will be independence from China. The march, according to a statement from president’s office, serves “to make the people of Taiwan understand what freedom means”.
Since1993, ever single year, Taiwan’s’ allies have sought to open the debate on UN seat for the island, but their request either does not receive sufficient backing from the Assembly or it is blocked outright by the Security Council, of which China is a member. The latter generally falls back on Resolution 2758, voted in ’71, according to which the Beijing government is China’s only representative.
However since ’49 –when Chiang Kai-shek’s government fled to the island leaving China to Mao Zedong - Taiwan has been living is a state of virtual independence and has evolved into a modern democracy with a government, a parliament, free and fair elections and an economy that ranks 18th in the world.