Last Updated 26/03/2005, 20:13:10
In Taiwan, President Chen Shui-bian and hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Taipei to protest against a new Chinese law threatening the island.
Protestors have marched down 10 major streets in the capital, symbolizing the 10 clauses of China's anti-secession law.
The controversial legislation, passed by the Chinese parliament last week, authorises the use of military force against Taiwan if the island moves toward formal independence
The leading Taiwanese negotiator with the mainland, Joseph Wu, has called for people to show the international community their opposition to the new law.
The Taiwan people want peace and Taiwan people want to safeguard their democracy by assembled one million people on the street. That's a very strong signal to the international community that Taiwan is not happy with the Chinese passage of the entire secession law. And we also want to show to the Chinese side that we are angry over the Chinese action. And we want to let the Chinese side know that the law has dealt a severe blow to the prospect of a peaceful negotiations between Taiwan and China.
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In Taiwan, President Chen Shui-bian and hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Taipei to protest against a new Chinese law threatening the island.Protestors have marched down 10 major streets in the capital, symbolizing the 10 clauses of China's anti-secession law.The controversial legislation, passed by the Chinese parliament last week, authorises the use of military force against Taiwan if the island moves toward formal independenceThe leading Taiwanese negotiator with the mainland, Joseph Wu, has called for people to show the international community their opposition to the new law.The Taiwan people want peace and Taiwan people want to safeguard their democracy by assembled one million people on the street. That's a very strong signal to the international community that Taiwan is not happy with the Chinese passage of the entire secession law. And we also want to show to the Chinese side that we are angry over the Chinese action. And we want to let the Chinese side know that the law has dealt a severe blow to the prospect of a peaceful negotiations between Taiwan and China.
Taiwan
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Taipei Saturday evening, as several political parties and the Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian voiced their opposition to the new anti-secession law passed by mainland China last week.

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

Reuters news agency reports that organisers had hoped to attract one million people to the marches, but police estimate an attendance of only 230,000 so far.

"I am here to protest against a barbaric China who looks down upon the Taiwanese people," said Fan Wen-yi, a 70-year-old businessman. "The anti-secession law, simply put, is a law that authorises war. If they really see Taiwan people as their compatriots, why do they enact such a law?"