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Taiwan president assures countrymen he won't sell out to China

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou. Photo courtesy AFP.

Taiwan demo shows people oppose Ma's China policy: media
A major anti-China rally at the weekend has shown that Taiwan people oppose President Ma Ying-jeou's policies towards the mainland and see him as weak on the issue, local newspapers said Sunday. The mass demonstration also highlighted that the island's scandal-tainted former president Chen Shiu-bian remains influential, they said. Organisers claimed that up to 600,000 people took to Taipei streets Saturday in the biggest demonstration since Ma of the China-friendly Kuomintang took office in May. Taipei police authorities put the turnout at around 180,000. The crowd hit out at the planned visit of Beijing's top Taiwan negotiator in little over a week, and voiced anger at a series of Chinese export scandals including milk products tainted by the industrial chemical melamine. "This demonstration is a severe warning to President Ma that people are angry at his pro-China measures and the government's impotence," the Liberty Times said in a commentary. The mainstream thinking here is that Taiwan people want peace with China but must not surrender its sovereignty to Beijing in any rapprochement talks, it said. Taiwan has ruled itself since 1949 after it split with the Chinese mainland at the end of a civil war, but Beijing still regards the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. The United Daily News said the protest proved that the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cannot distance itself from Chen, who quit the DPP after money laundering claims against him and his family surfaced earlier this year. Chen, dressed in a green T-shirt, chanted pro-Taiwan slogans and gave the thumbs-up to his supporters before beginning to march. He joined the procession and was met by a cheering crowd. "This rally was a stage for Chen but a nightmare for the DPP," the News said in its editorial. The rally comes as an investigation into allegations of money laundering and embezzlement against him and his family shifts into high gear. While battling the legal process, Chen has also appealed for public support alleging that the investigation was politically motivated. Chen retired in May after his second and final four-year term expired.
by Staff Writers
Taipei (AFP) Oct 26, 2008
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Sunday sought to allay fears his government would sell out the island in negotiations with Beijing, following a mass anti-China demonstration.

The Hong Kong-born politician defended his record of closer ties with China as he spoke at a gathering while visiting the northern city of Keelung.

"Although I was not born here, I grew up eating Taiwan rice and drinking Taiwan water....I will by no means betray Taiwan," he said.

"Since I was elected by the people, I will listen carefully to the voice of the people and put them on top of the government's agenda," Ma said.

Relations with Beijing have improved dramatically since Ma came to power and he has promised to boost business and tourism links with China following eight years of strained relations under the government of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Ma's remarks came one day after hundreds of thousands of people took to the capital city, denouncing Taipei's warming ties with Beijing, which they said threaten the self-ruled island's sovereignty.

Organisers claimed that up to 600,000 people took part in the biggest demonstration since Ma, of the China-friendly Kuomintang, took office in May. Taipei police authorities put the turnout at around 180,000.

The crowd hit out at the planned visit of Beijing's top Taiwan negotiator in little over a week and voiced anger at a series of Chinese export scandals including milk products tainted by the industrial chemical melamine.

Liu Teh-hsun, spokesman for Taiwan's China policy decision-making body Mainland Affairs Council, repeated on Sunday the government's line that no political issues would be discussed in the coming talks.

Chen Yunlin, head of China's quasi-official Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, is expected to arrive on November 3 for the first such high-level talks held in Taiwan.

Chen, whose organisation is authorised by Beijing to handle civilian exchanges with Taipei in the absence of official contacts, is expected to discuss establishing closer shipping and air cargo links.

Trade and travel ties between China and Taiwan have been severely limited since 1949 but talks in June led to the first regular direct flights in nearly six decades.

China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war but Beijing still regards the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

Related Links
Taiwan News at SinoDaily.com



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Taiwan independence groups plan huge China envoy protest
Taipei (AFP) Oct 23, 2008
Taiwanese pro-independence activists plan to stage their biggest rally Saturday since President Ma Ying-jeou took office as his China-friendly government readies the red carpet for a top Beijing envoy.







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