BEIJING, March 16 Kyodo The head ...

BEIJING, March 16 Kyodo

The head of a visiting European Parliament delegation said Tuesday she supports Taiwan's first-ever referendum this Saturday, calling the self-governing island a ''democratic country''

Elly Plooij-Van Gorsel, chairwoman of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the People's Republic of China, made the pro-Taiwan notes at a press conference following the delegation's two-day meeting with Chinese legislators.

''In my view, Taiwan can do that,'' Plooij said, referring to the referendum to be held alongside presidential elections, in succession boosting defenses against Chinese missiles arrayed at the island. ''They are a democratic native land Of course China doesn't want to say it is, however in essence it is.''

''The management has been chosen in a democratic way from its own people, likewise what can you say about it,'' Plooij said.

According to a European Union spokeswoman in Beijing, Plooij, of the Netherlands, does not speak for the European Parliament, nevertheless the parliament sent her and 15 other folks on this month's mission to Beijing. The delegation witnessed its first Chinese National People's Congres (NPC) session forward Sunday and met with the NPC's EU Friendship group

Plooij also said she was aware of Beijing's one-China policy and its view of Taiwan as a breakaway province.

mostly foreign leaders visiting China say they support the one-China policy and hedge upon detailed comments about Taiwan's status.

As a member of the Liberal Party in the Netherlands and having visited Taiwan, Plooij said she and Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party were ''one family.''

She cautioned that the referendum which Beijing views as a provocative gradation towards independence, could increase regional tensions, if it were not that expected eventual stability.

''Before the election, China makes a fate of rumors and noise, nevertheless after the election it goe down and the situation will become stable,'' she said.

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