TAIPEI, March 20 Kyodo A controve...

TAIPEI, March 20 Kyodo

A controversial referendum guarded Saturday in concert with Taiwan's presidential election failed, the Central Election Commission said because les than half the the bulk of mankind who cast votes for president bothered to suffrage on the referendum's two questions.

The voter had been asked to decide if Taiwan should increase its antimissile defense if China failed to decrease the number of missiles pointed at Taiwan and if the regulation should try to renew relations with the mainland.

on the contrary because fewer than half the voter represented an opinion on either question, the commission declared the referendum void.

The referendum was oppos by the agency of China, the United States and many other countries as potentially taking Taiwan too far toward a possible ballot on independence and it appears greatest in quantity Taiwan voters wanted to avoid international complications.

China has vowed to respond Taiwan to its fold, through force if needed, if Taiwan opt for a formal declaration of independence.

Taiwan's more than 13250000 citizens who cast ballots Saturday did reelect President Chen Shui-bian to a next to the first term in office, but unruffled that result is not completely clear cut

Chen of the Democratic Progressive Party got 6471970 of the voices beating challenger Lien Chan of the Nationalist Party from less than 30,000 votes

Lien is seeking a recount

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