TAIPEI : Taiwan's pro-independence ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is planning a huge rally to protest China's anti-secession law aimed at the island, party officials said.
"The DPP will stage a rally in the capital Taipei on March 26... I hope 500,000 people will take part... to safeguard democracy and peace and protect Taiwan," said DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang.
President Chen Shui-bian, also from the DPP, was yet to confirm whether he will join the event, Su said.
China's National People's Congress (NPC), or parliament, is expected on Monday to pass the controversial anti-secession law aimed at preventing Taiwan from declaring formal independence.
Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC's standing committee, told parliament Wednesday that it was their "solemn mission" to pass the legislation, ignoring a call from the United States to rethink the bill.
Taiwan authorities are worried the law could create the legal basis for China to take the island by force or pressure it to accept reunification.
The text of the draft, published by Taiwanese media, calls for the use of "non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," if all other alternatives fail.
This will be necessary "in the event that the 'Taiwan independence' forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan's secession from China," the draft bill said.
Taiwan authorities have said the law is tantamount to issuing a blank check to the Chinese military and accused Beijing of jeopardizing cross-strait stability.
Beijing still considers the island part of its territory despite their split in 1949 after a civil war. It has repeatedly threatened to wage war should the island declare formal independence.
Chen, however, has insisted on Taiwan's sovereignty and said the future of the island must be decided by people here.
The hardline pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) last week demonstrated in the southern city of Kaohsiung to protest the anti-secession law.
The angry crowd burned a huge Chinese flag and shouted, "Opposing annexation, safeguarding Taiwan."
The TSU, which holds only 12 seats in the 225-member parliament, plans to introduce an "anti-annexation" bill in parliament.
About 56 percent of Taiwanese oppose China's anti-secession law and nearly 47 percent think the island should counter it by holding a referendum or introducing its own legislation, according to a survey published Wednesday.
- AFP
Two Taiwanese political parties of the independence-leaning "pan-green alliance" unveiled new bills today in response to the new "anti-secession" law passed earlier this week by the People's Republic of China.

The Democratic Progressive Party is expected to introduce a bill giving the President of the Republic of China the power to take "non-peaceful" action, or other actions, to "safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty and territory".  The draft version of the law mandates that the Taiwanese President must report to the legislature on any such actions within thirty days.

DPP caucus whip Peter Lin said that although the signatures of only thirty lawmakers are required to make the law valid, over fifty have already been gathered.

The seven-article draft law states that the Taiwan issue is not a part of China's internal affairs, but rather that it is an international matter between nations.  It goes on to state that it is necessary and urgent to quickly enact counter-legislation to deter Mainland China's annexation efforts.  It further calls for increased trust and understanding between the two sides, including greater trade, sporting, and cultural links.

The Taiwanese Solidarity Union also proposed a new "anti-annexation" law.  The eleven article draft states that "Taiwan is already an independent sovereign state and it is not an issue for Taiwan to declare independence or seek separation from China".  It goes on to state that the government should call a referendum to amend the Taiwanese constitution to safeguard Taiwanese sovereignty.  The draft law would also give the Taiwanese President authorisation to resort to "non-peaceful means" to resist Chinese aggression.

Taiwanese independence has been a thorny issue in recent years, as some Taiwanese politicians insist that the democratic island is a sovereign nation, and Chinese authorities insist that it is a part of the PRC.