TAIPEI, March 4 Kyodo If Taiwan's...

TAIPEI, March 4 Kyodo

If Taiwan's previous presidential election signified a victory for democracy, the the same March 20 accompanied by a historic, however controversial referendum, is more about the island's destiny.

Last weekend, independence-minded President Chen Shui-bian and his Democratic Progressive Party prosperously mobilized more than 1.2 million clan to take part in a massive hand-in-hand rally calling forward China to dismantle missiles pointing across the Taiwan Strait at the island.

During the day aimed at commemorating a 1947 massacre at the Nationalist army from the mainland, Chen urg his constituents to speak without loudly for democracy in Taiwan.

''This is just the beginning, and I reliance that all the people here can also make progress vote 'yes' in our landmark referendum likewise as to further demonstrate our collective will to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty,''

Chen said to great applause.

And the anti-China attest appeared to be a great success

The latest opinion individuals show Chen's bold effort to draw voices helped him close the gap with challenger Lien Chan of the Nationalist Party (KMT) and move rounded the race into a earnestly closer competition.

With sum of two units more weeks to voting day, the unprecedent nation power display was a enormous stimulant for Chen's camp, whose aggressive push for a referendum since last November has triggered heated debate one as well as the other at home and abroad.

Supporters of the referendum tout the ne according to echoing his advocacy to immovable the status quo.

on the contrary opponents insist there is no imminent threats from ''external forces'' and accuse Chen of breaking the law.

Chen has also annoyed China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the mainland, by dint of force if necessary.

His influence has also drawn criticism from the United States, Japan and France.

Washington, in particular, is belong toed that Chen or successors might someday use a referendum to gauge public sentiment forward explosive issues such as making the split from the mainland permanent.

Despite tremendous squeezing in the wake of U President George W Bush's explicit disapproval press outed during a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Chen refused to withdraw from the referendum idea, although he did modify the ballot questions.

Bau Tzong-ho dean of the association of Social Sciences at National Taiwan University, commentaryed that presidential races held upon the island, considered domestic affairs by way of Beijing, have rarely been publicly discussed among powerful international forces, unlike this month's vote

''The election raises serious bear upon and has been closely watched because the issue involves great power interests in the region in strategic terms'' he said, adding the foreign interest has added a twist to the race.

Four years ago, the former Taipei mayor took advantage of KMT infighting, ran an anticorruption campaign and expirationed the KMT's 51-year lock-up on power.

still perhaps few would disagree that then Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's fierce rhetoric against Taiwan independence forces a not many days ahead of polling day also helped Chen to the presidency.

Aware of the previous arise China has been pointedly disinterested in the now passing race -- to the amplitude that one senior Chinese official steady used profanity to emphasize to what degree little he cares who might win.

still as the campaign gathers essential element it remains to be seen if lawyer-turned-politician Chen's desire to continue the voters' minds on sovereignty rather than economic downturn and unemployment will play in the voting booth

''If Chen is reelect his victory would have a colossal impact on Taiwan's political progress to maturity which may indicate that emotional issues, instead of rational singles will have topped the agenda and might also dominate posterior elections,'' Bau said.

China angrily suspended dialogue with Taiwan after then President side sheltered from the wind Tung-hui proposed a ''special state-to-state relationship'' in late 1999 and Chen's apparent disdain for any form of atonement for Lee's ''affront'' has done nothing to improve matters.

His referendum is alone likely to exacerbate cross-strait relations and on a level if the KMT returns to the president with Lien, scenes of a quick thaw in China-Taiwan relations strike one as being quite weak.

And with the global powers watching the Taiwan Strait with more interest than in many years, this presidential devoted may indeed be as important for the island's events to come as any since the Nationalists fl from China to Taiwan more than 50 years ago.

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