Nip referendum move in the bud

Cross-Straits relations are facing a testing time as May 20, when Taiwan's top leader-elect is scheduled to take office, draws near.

Although Tsai Ing-wen, also head of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, has claimed that her administration will try to maintain the cross-Straits status quo, there are few indications that her inauguration speech will mention the 1992 Consensus, which has been the foundation for improving cross-Straits ties.

Further fueling worries that relations will deteriorate is the recent attempt by some DPP lawmakers to amend the island's referendum law, in a bid to drastically lower the threshold for an island-wide referendum and enlarge the scope of issues that can be put to a public vote to include "sovereignty" and cross-Straits agreements.