Economist proposes referendum on Taiwan

Lu De, an economist with ties to China's leadership, has proposed a personal idea for parallel referendum on the mainland if Taiwan votes for UN leadership, a move Beijing says would be a declaration of independence and therefore a cause for war, the South China Morning Post reported. Lu suggested the referendum, which would allow mainland residents to vote on the island's status in the UN, as an alternative to a war with Taiwan, which would threaten the Olympics next summer. Though not a government or party official, Lu has informal access to the top leadership as the eldest son of former vice premier Lu Dingyi, and is a board member of the government-funded China Council for Promoting Peaceful Reunification. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan back under mainland rule, threatening to attack the island if it moves towards independence.