Republic of China United Nations membership referendum, 2008

Two referenda 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.Government Information Office of the Republic of China (2008), [http://www.gio.gov.tw/elect2008/kit_06.htm Referendum Proposals] , "March 22, 2008 Presidential Election and Referendums – PRESS KIT Fact Sheet No. 6"]

The first referendum question, supported by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of President Chen Shui-bien, [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/27/asia/AS-GEN-Taiwan-Foreign-Minister.php "AP Interview: Foreign min says UN referendum is 'overwhelming sentiment' of Taiwan people"] ", International Herald Tribune, 7/27/2007"] asked whether voters agree that the government should seek United Nations membership under the name "Taiwan". The second referendum question, supported by the Kuomintang (KMT), which on the same day won the presidential election, 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.

The format of the referenda 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 referenda are each supported by one of the two major parties in Taiwan, they both stand formally as voter-initiated, rather than government-sponsored, referenda. Furthermore, while the KMT initiated one of the two referenda, it has encouraged its voters to at least boycott the DPP-initiated referendum, and expressed its understanding if supporters chose to boycott both referenda. 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 referenda meant that neither reached the minimum threshold of participation by 50% of all eligible voters to become effective. DPP officials, including president Chen Shui-bien, called on voters to vote in both referenda.

The ROC Central Election Commission has declared the failure of both referenda due to low turnout.Since most people who against them by not voting rather than vote against them. The presidential election held at the same time had a turn out rate at 76.33%.

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”"

cquote|In 1971, the People’s Republic of China joined the United Nations, replacing the Republic of China and causing Taiwan to become an orphan in the world. To strongly express the will of the people of Taiwan to enhance Taiwan’s international status and participation in international affairs,

Do you agree that the government should apply for UN membership under the name "Taiwan"?

(Chinese text: _zh. 1971年中華人民共和國進入聯合國，取代中華民國，台灣成為國際孤兒。為強烈表達台灣人民的意志，提升台灣的國際地位及參與，您是否同意政府以「台灣」名義加入聯合國？)

*Referendum on flexible participation in international organizations

Note: Opinion polls may be subjected to sampling biases.Fact|date=March 2008

References

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

External links

* [http://www.gio.gov.tw/elect2008/kit_06.htm official press kit for the Republic of China United Nations membership referendum, 2008]