TMCnet News
Opposition supporters rally against Taiwan's Chen+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TAIPEI, March 12_(Kyodo) _ Thousands of supporters led by opposition Nationalist Party leader Ma Ying-jeou took to the streets of Taipei on Sunday to protest President Chen Shui-bian's controversial move to scrap a symbolic council set to promote unification with China. Braving chilly winds and drizzle, an estimated 30 thousand people waved national flags and chanted "Fight for life! Save Taiwan!" throughout the rally launched partly to commemorate the death of Sun Yat-sen, the Republic of China's founding father who is revered by both Taiwan and China. They arrived at the square in front of the Presidential Palace in the late afternoon to take part in an assembly in which they demanded Chen not play up anti-China sentiments but to work on how to revitalize the island's lagging economic performance. "The government's corruption scandals break out again and again, but the president only cares about the debate of unification and independence," Ma told the crowd. "People care about their livelihood, not politics. We have to stand out and have him hear what we are really thinking about." Taiwan and China split in 1949 amid a civil war. China has threatened military actions should the self-ruled island declare formal independence. Despite being political adversaries, both economies have become intimately intertwined for the past decade, with China ranked as the island's biggest trade partner. More than a million Taiwanese work on the mainland. China has refused to deal with independence-leaning Chen since he took office in 2000 but instead strives to enlarge exchanges with opposition parties favoring reconciliation with China. Last April, China provided a string of economic sweeteners, including a pair of giant pandas, for the island when two major opposition leaders made landmark trips there, which embarrassed the president. To counter Beijing's efforts, Chen, whose popularity has plunged to a record low in recent months, proposed early this year a tightening of economic policies toward the mainland. Last month, he pressed ahead with a plan to terminate the dormant National Unification Council despite strong opposition from the United States and China. Washington, alarmed, has urged Chen to unambiguously reaffirm he is not seeking to alter the status quo and that he will uphold his pledges not to seek formal independence. Chen has so far not given any reply. "We want peace and a better economic performance. I am here because I want the international society to hear the true voice of the Taiwanese people, not just Chen's," said a of the Taipei-based protestor surnamed Yeh. "I care about Taiwan's future. I am tired of the national leaders talking nothing but politics all the time," said a housewife surnamed Wang. |