Taiwanese United Nations membership referendums, 2008

Republic of China (Taiwan) United Nations membership referendums, 2008

March 22, 2008

Majority party Minority party   Leader Chen Shui-bian Wu Po-hsiung Party Democratic Progressive Kuomintang Leader since May 20, 2000 March 20, 2000 Popular vote 5,529,230 (Question 5) 352,359 (Question 5) Percentage 94.01% (Question 5) 5.99% (Question 5)

Two referendums on the participation of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the United Nations were put to Republic of China voters on March 22, 2008, the same day as the presidential election.^[1]

The first referendum question, supported by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of President Chen Shui-bian,^[2] asked whether voters agree that the government should seek United Nations membership under the name "Taiwan".^[1] The second referendum question, supported by the Kuomintang (KMT), which on the same day won the presidential election,^[2] asked whether voters supported "our nation" seek to "return" to the United Nations and join other international organisations under "flexible and practical strategies", including joining as "Republic of China", "Taiwan", or any other name that aids success and national dignity.^[1]

The ROC Central Election Commission has declared both referendums invalid due to low turnout. The presidential election held at the same time had a turn out rate at 76.33%.

Politics

Under Chen Shui-bian, banners supporting Taiwan joining the UN were common in government buildings, such as Taipei Main Station.

The format of the referendums has been controversial, with much of the discussion occurring before the Republic of China transitional justice referendum held in January 2008.

Note that while the two referendums are each supported by one of the two major parties in Taiwan, they both stand formally as voter-initiated, rather than government-sponsored, referendums.^[1] Furthermore, while the KMT initiated one of the two referendums, it has encouraged its voters to at least boycott the DPP-initiated referendum, and expressed its understanding if supporters chose to boycott both referendums. In practice, while KMT officials such as presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou and chairman Wu Po-hsiung received ballot papers for the KMT-sponsored referendum, their family and other KMT officials, such as chairman emeritus Lien Chan refused to take ballot papers for either referendum. Former president Lee Teng-hui did not take either ballot paper, which he said was because he "forgot" to bring the documentation, although reporters at the scene pointed out to him that he did not need documentation to vote. The low number of voters participating in the referendums meant that neither reached the minimum threshold of participation by 50% of all eligible voters to become effective. DPP officials, including president Chen Shui-bian, called on voters to vote in both referendums.

Questions and results

Question 5

National Referendum Proposal No. 5 was first initiated by You Si-kun (Yu Shyi-kun), former Premier of the ROC and former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party. The topic was "Application to become a new member of the United Nations under the name “Taiwan”"

Question 5
Choice	Votes	%
No	352,359	5.99
Yes	5,529,230	94.01
Valid votes	5,881,589	94.84
Invalid or blank votes	320,088	5.16
Total votes	6,201,677	100.00
Turnout required	50.00
Registered voters and turnout	17,313,854	35.82

Question 6

National Referendum Proposal No. 6 was first initiated by Vincent Siew, former Premier of the ROC and current Vice President-elect.

Question 6
Choice	Votes	%
No	724,060	12.73
Yes	4,962,309	87.27
Valid votes	5,686,369	91.91
Invalid or blank votes	500,749	8.09
Total votes	6,187,118	100.00
Turnout required	50.00
Registered voters and turnout	17,313,854	35.74

Both referendums were invalidated since turnout were below the minimum requirement of 50% of registered voters.

External responses

Propaganda supporting Taiwan joining the UN in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. It says that it's "UNFAIR" for Taiwan being excluded from UN.

 United States: The United States Department of State has stated that it opposed a referendum on membership in the United Nations. While it strongly supports Taiwan's democratic development and is not opposed to referendums in principle, it is against "any initiative that appears designed to change Taiwan's status unilaterally."^[3][4] In September 2007, Zogby International conducted an opinion poll on the support of this referendum, the result shows over 61% of Americans believe that the US government should support the referendum.^[5][6]

 Japan: A Japanese company also conducted a poll on the same issue; the result shows over 74% Japanese support Taiwan's entry into the UN, and over 81% support the referendum.^[7] However, this referendum has not become a major political issue in either the United States or Japan.

 People's Republic of China: The PRC made relatively few comments on the issue. It argued that the referendum would "endanger peace and stability across the Strait and the Asia-Pacific region.",^[8] and was "pinning hope on the Taiwan people" and will keep promoting cross-Strait exchanges to strengthen opposition to secessionist forces. It had stated that it appreciated the US opposition to the referendum.^[9] After the referendums were defeated due to low voter turnout, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China commented that the results showed the lack of popular support for independence in Taiwan. The Bureau also expressed optimism for the two governments to work together to maintain cross-strait peace and aid development in future.^[10]

Domestic reaction to international reactions

ROC president Chen Shui-bian has accused both the United States and the European Union of caving into PRC pressure over the referendum.^[11]

Opinion polling

• Referendum on applying for United Nations membership under the name of "Taiwan"

• Referendum on flexible participation in international organizations

Note: Opinion polls may be subjected to sampling biases.

References

Bibliography

• http://vote2008-3.nat.gov.tw/en/R0/00000000000.html

External links

• official press kit for the Republic of China United Nations membership referendum, 2008

Elections and referendums in Taiwan Presidential elections 1954 1960 1966 1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 National Assembly elections 1969 1972 1980 1986 1991 1996 2005 Legislative elections 1969 1972 1975 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2008 2012 2016 Municipal and provincial elections 1936 1940 1946 1951 1954 1957 1960 1963 1968 1969 1972 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 Local elections 1935 1939 1950 1954 1957 1960 1964 1968 1972 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2014 2018 Referendums 2004 2008 (Jan) 2008 (Mar) See also: Elections in the Republic of China (1912–49)

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