Hundreds of thousands protest anti-secession law in Taiwan
{{date|March 26, 2005}}
[[Image:Taiwan NASA Terra MODIS 23791.jpg|180px|right|Hundreds of thousands protest anti-secession law in Taiwan]]
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of [[w:Taipei City|Taipei]], [[w:Taiwan|Taiwan]] on Saturday, as several political parties, 500 civic groups, and [[w:President of Republic of China|President]] [[w:Chen Shui-bian|Chen Shui-bian]] voiced their opposition to the [[w:Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China|"anti-secession" law]] passed by the [[w:People's Republic of China|People's Republic of China]] last week.

The ''Associated Press'' and the ''Sydney Morning Herald'' estimated turnout at close to one million. Police spokesman Tan Szu-huai initially provided an estimate of about 300,000, but ''AP'' is reporting a revised police estimate of one million. ''Reuters'' news agency reports that organisers had hoped to attract one million people to the march.

"What do we want from China? Peace!" [[w:Democratic Progressive Party|DPP]] lawmaker Bikhim Hsiao chanted with the crowd.

Hsiao told ''CNN'', "[This law] essentially gives China a blank check to use force against Taiwan, and they are the ones legislating, they are the ones interpreting the law, and executing and implementing the law."

===President Chen participates===
Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian joined the protesters with his family and a security escort at 3pm local time. Chen is not scheduled to make a major speech to the crowd once they assemble at Presidential Office in downtown Taipei City, although he will preside over a ceremony with songs for each of the four major ethnic groups before the rally ends.

Protestors chanted "Oppose war, Love Taiwan" amongst what has been termed a "democratic carnival" in downtown Taipei. The "carnival" consisted of activities on different themes relating to Taiwanese national sovereignty and cross-straits relations.

Protestors attended from all over Taiwan, many braving arduous ten-hour or longer bus rides to Taipei.

Taiwan's former president [[w:Lee Teng-hui|Lee Teng-hui]], the spiritual leader of the pro-independence [[w:Taiwan Solidarity Union|TSU]], and Premier [[w:Frank Hsieh|Frank Hsieh]], a member of the [[w:Democratic Progressive Party|Democratic Progressive Party]], are also taking part in the march.

Vice President [[w:Annette Lu|Annette Lu]] is expected to make an appearance at the Presidential Office.

Taiwanese television station ''ETTV'' on its ''Taiwan Domestic Newshour'' and others are providing live coverage as the march and rally progresses.

===Reaction from China===
Andrew Yang, secretary-general of the Council for Advanced Policy Studies in Taiwan, told ''Bloomberg'', "China probably won't respond too strongly to the rally, focusing instead on how to make progress in terms of a peaceful, pragmatic approach."

At the time this story was filed, China's state-controlled ''Xinhua'' and ''People's Daily'' news agencies had no immediate comment about the march or the planned rally, but earlier today, ''Xinhua'' reported that on Friday, a Chinese expert "urged the Taiwan authorities to grasp the 'sincerity and goodwill' expressed in the Anti-Secession Law," stating that "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces had "malevolently distorted" the legislation and "sought to instigate hostility" between the two sides.

China's state-run news agencies also quoted professors from Chinese universities on Friday, who warned that the situation could become "further aggravated" by Saturday's planned event.

==See also==

*{{Wikinews|title=Taiwan Democratic Alliance for Peace plans massive rally on Saturday
|date=March 25}}

*{{Wikinews|title=China enacts historic "anti-secession" law
|date=March 15}}

*{{Wikinews|title=Taiwanese political parties propose "anti-invasion" laws
|date=March 15}}

==External link==
"China's Hard Line Stirs Throng in Taiwan." Keith Bradsher. ''New York Times.'' March 27, 2005. [http://nytimes.com/2005/03/27/international/asia/27taiwan.html?pagewanted=all]

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/A-million-Taiwanese-protest-Chinese-laws/2005/03/26/1111692682671.html?oneclick=true
|title=A million Taiwanese protest Chinese law
|author=
|pub=Sydney Morning Herald
|date=March 26, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/26/taiwan.march/index.html
|title=Massive anti-China march in Taiwan
|author=
|pub=CNN
|date=March 26, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/26/content_2744687.htm
|title=Taiwan urged to grasp essence of Hu's speech
|author=
|pub=Xinhua
|date=March 26, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=8005684&type=worldNews
|title=Taiwanese Hold Major Protest Against China
|author=Steven Grauwels
|pub=AP
|date=March 26, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=615237
|title=Taiwan holds "democratic carnival" against China law
|author=Alice Hung
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 26, 2005}}

*''Taiwan Domestic Newshour''. ''ETTV'', March 26, 2005

*{{source|url=http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4311479
|title=Taiwanese Hold Massive Protest Against China 
|author=
|pub=The Scotsman
|date=March 26, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=asQj4effIjK4&refer=top_world_news
|title=Taiwan Anti-China Rally Draws Hundreds of Thousands
|author=
|pub=Bloomberg
|date=March 26, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://english.www.gov.tw/index.jsp?action=cna&cnaid=8060
|title=President takes to the streets against China's anti-secession law
|author=
|pub=Central News Agency
|date=March 26, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/25/content_2744343.htm
|title=Scholar urges Taiwan to grasp "sincerity and goodwill" in Hu's speech
|author=
|pub=Xinhua
|date=March 25, 2004}}

__NOTOC__
{{archive}}
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Taiwan]]
[[Category:China]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Published]]

[[de:Massendemonstrationen in Taipeh gegen „Anti-Abspaltungsgesetz“]]
[[pl:Setki tysięcy protestujących przeciwko "prawu antysecesyjnemu" na Tajwanie]]
Hundreds of thousands protest anti-secession law in Taiwan
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Taipei, Taiwan on Saturday, as several political parties, 500 civic groups, and President Chen Shui-bian voiced their opposition to the "anti-secession" law passed by the People's Republic of China last week.

The Associated Press and the Sydney Morning Herald estimated turnout at close to one million. Police spokesman Tan Szu-huai initially provided an estimate of about 300,000, but AP is reporting a revised police estimate of one million. Reuters news agency reports that organisers had hoped to attract one million people to the march.

"What do we want from China? Peace!" DPP lawmaker Bikhim Hsiao chanted with the crowd.

Hsiao told CNN, "This law essentially gives China a blank check to use force against Taiwan, and they are the ones legislating, they are the ones interpreting the law, and executing and implementing the law."

Protestors chanted "Oppose war, Love Taiwan" amongst what has been termed a "democratic carnival" in downtown Taipei. The "carnival" consisted of activities on different themes relating to Taiwanese national sovereignty and cross-straits relations.

Protestors attended from all over Taiwan, many braving arduous ten-hour or longer bus rides to Taipei.

Taiwan's former president Lee Teng-hui, the spiritual leader of the pro-independence TSU, and Premier Frank Hsieh, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, are also taking part in the march.

Vice President Annette Lu is expected to make an appearance at the Presidential Office.

Taiwanese television station ETTV on its Taiwan Domestic Newshour and others are providing live coverage as the march and rally progresses.

At the time this story was filed, China's state-controlled Xinhua and People's Daily news agencies had no immediate comment about the march or the planned rally, but earlier today, Xinhua reported that on Friday, a Chinese expert "urged the Taiwan authorities to grasp the 'sincerity and goodwill' expressed in the Anti-Secession Law," stating that "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces had "malevolently distorted" the legislation and "sought to instigate hostility" between the two sides.

China's state-run news agencies also quoted professors from Chinese universities on Friday, who warned that the situation could become "further aggravated" by Saturday's planned event.

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*Taiwan Domestic Newshour. ETTV, March 26, 2005

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__NOTOC__
Asia Taiwan China Politics and conflicts Published