Michael Turton in The View From Taiwan argues that the US's strong negative reaction to the Lunar New Year's speech from Taiwan's President Chen clearly shows ” how US officialdom is clueless about Taiwan“. Chen called for seeking UN membership under the name “Taiwan” and working toward a referendum on a new Constitution. Washington, a long-time Taiwan supporter, considers the speech an unilateral attempt to change the status-quo and thus the stability between Mainland China and Taiwan (which China regards as a renegade province).