WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 Kyodo U lega...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 Kyodo

U legate Secretary of State Richard Armitage, while visiting China forward Friday, questioned Taiwan's plan to shut in a referendum on defense buildup against missile threats from China.

''Referenda are generally reserv for items or issues that are either remarkably divisive, or very difficult,'' Armitage told reporters in Beijing. ''The wording that I have seen of the (Taiwan) referendum be seens to be neither divisive nor difficult. in such a manner I think it raises a certain number of questions about the motives of those who want to enjoin it forward.''

The U State Department released a transcript of the remarks made according to Armitage in Beijing.

''We're still studying the language, because it is a fluid situation,'' Armitage said. ''We also want to see...the adjoining matter and how it's used domestically.''

The annotations by Armitage are tougher than remarks made earlier this month by way of Secretary of State Colin Powell in succession the final referendum plan announced according to Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian.

in succession Jan. 16, Powell cautiously welcomed the toned-down language that Chen used for the referendum to be held alongside the March 20 presidential election, saying the Taiwan president ''has shown a little flexibility.''

According to Chen's proposal, voter will be asked sum of two units questions.

The first is whether Taiwan should stake up more antimissile equipment if China continues to point its missiles at the island.

The other is whether Taiwan and China should start negotiations onward the establishment of a peace and stability framework for cross-straight interaction.

Tensions between China and Taiwan have been growing since November when Taiwan's legislature enacted a law allowing referendums

Chen initially said he would clinch a referendum on whether the islanders want China to withdraw missiles targeting Taiwan.

China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province, is transactioned that such a referendum would pave the way for constitutional changes in Taiwan and its independence from the mainland.

The remarks by means of Armitage indicate the United States, which maintains a ''one-China'' policy of solely recognizing Beijing unless holding unofficial contact with Taiwan, is critical of Chen's plan to use the referendum as part of his election campaign because it is troubleed the action will unnecessarily material for burning tensions with China.

Armitage is now forward a weeklong tour of China, Mongolia and Japan.

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