Protests mar historic meeting between Ma and visiting China envoy
By Ho Ai Li 7 November 2008
TAIPEI: A short meeting that marked a big step forward in cross-strait ties was marred by one of the ugliest protests Taiwan has seen in recent years.
For all of five minutes, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou and visiting Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin shook hands, exchanging brief remarks and gifts at a guest house near the Presidential Office.
Mr Chen is the most senior official from China to visit the island and on Tuesday, he and his Taiwanese counterpart inked four pacts aimed at normalising air, shipping and postal links between the two sides.
The meeting was kept short and also brought forward by five hours to avoid ugly scenes by Taiwanese demonstrating against Mr Chen’s visit.
When the protesters, who numbered in the tens of thousands, found out about the schedule change, they took out their anger by trying to break through the barricades outside the Presidential Office.
They clashed with riot police who were standing by, hurling stones, eggs and bottles at the men armed with rods and shields.
Some protesters surrounded a fire engine, preventing riot police from using water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Dozens from both sides were injured in the clashes.
Late last night, protesters were still camped outside the Grand Hotel where Mr Chen and his delegation were staying.
While protests are not uncommon in Taiwan, they are nearly always peaceful without violence.
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which organised the protest, put the number of demonstrators at 100,000. Taipei police said they deployed about 3,000 officers to control the crowds.
At the meeting, the sensitive question of whether Mr Chen would address Mr Ma by his formal title, which would be a tacit nod to Taiwan’s existence as a sovereign state, was carefully sidestepped.
The only time ‘President’ was mentioned was when an officer announced that ‘the President has arrived’.
Mr Chen simply referred to Mr Ma using the respectful form of ‘you’ in Mandarin.
In a brief speech telecast live, Mr Ma hailed Mr Chen’s visit as a success and said he wanted to see more high-level exchanges.
But the Taiwanese leader also pointed out: ‘What is undeniable is that differences and challenges still exist between the two sides, especially over Taiwan’s security and international space.’
Both sides should not ‘mutually deny’ each other’s existence, he added.
The Chinese envoy did not give a speech and made only a few remarks to Mr Ma as he presented the Taiwanese leader with a painting of a horse. Mr Ma’s name means ‘horse’ in Chinese.
Mr Chen, who wraps up his visit today, cancelled an evening press conference as the number of protesters swelled.
The Chinese envoy has been dogged by hostile and slogan-chanting protesters since he arrived here on Monday.
The protesters, mainly DPP supporters, accuse Mr Ma of selling out Taiwan’s interest and moving too close to China.
Late Wednesday, Mr Chen was trapped in a hotel for hours after hundreds of protesters gathered outside the venue.
The clashes, which turned bloody yesterday, highlight how at least half the population were ‘not emotionally ready’ for Mr Chen’s visit, said National Chengchi University sociology don Ku Chung-hwa.
Another sociologist, who declined to be named, said the high level of police mobilisation also played a part.
‘It’s also the dynamics. The greater the pressure, the greater the reaction.’
Mr Ma chided the DPP for going back on its promise to ensure that protests were peaceful.
DPP chief Tsai Ing-wen hit back, saying that ‘the greatest violence is a government that forces the people to take to the streets’.
A poll on the United Daily News website showed last night that 19,000 respondents held her responsible for the mess, compared to 5,000 who blamed Mr Ma.
Some analysts also put the blame on DPP city councillors hoping to raise their profile ahead of local elections next year.
Mr Chen, who leaves Taipei today, also attended an event to announce an animal swop between Beijing and Taipei. China is offering Taiwan a pair of pandas, while Taiwan offered a mountain goat and spotted deer in exchange.
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Protesters in Taiwan clash with riot police
Protests mar historic meeting between Ma and visiting China envoy
By Ho Ai Li
7 November 2008
TAIPEI: A short meeting that marked a big step forward in cross-strait ties was marred by one of the ugliest protests Taiwan has seen in recent years.
For all of five minutes, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou and visiting Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin shook hands, exchanging brief remarks and gifts at a guest house near the Presidential Office.
Mr Chen is the most senior official from China to visit the island and on Tuesday, he and his Taiwanese counterpart inked four pacts aimed at normalising air, shipping and postal links between the two sides.
The meeting was kept short and also brought forward by five hours to avoid ugly scenes by Taiwanese demonstrating against Mr Chen’s visit.
When the protesters, who numbered in the tens of thousands, found out about the schedule change, they took out their anger by trying to break through the barricades outside the Presidential Office.
They clashed with riot police who were standing by, hurling stones, eggs and bottles at the men armed with rods and shields.
Some protesters surrounded a fire engine, preventing riot police from using water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Dozens from both sides were injured in the clashes.
Late last night, protesters were still camped outside the Grand Hotel where Mr Chen and his delegation were staying.
While protests are not uncommon in Taiwan, they are nearly always peaceful without violence.
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which organised the protest, put the number of demonstrators at 100,000. Taipei police said they deployed about 3,000 officers to control the crowds.
At the meeting, the sensitive question of whether Mr Chen would address Mr Ma by his formal title, which would be a tacit nod to Taiwan’s existence as a sovereign state, was carefully sidestepped.
The only time ‘President’ was mentioned was when an officer announced that ‘the President has arrived’.
Mr Chen simply referred to Mr Ma using the respectful form of ‘you’ in Mandarin.
In a brief speech telecast live, Mr Ma hailed Mr Chen’s visit as a success and said he wanted to see more high-level exchanges.
But the Taiwanese leader also pointed out: ‘What is undeniable is that differences and challenges still exist between the two sides, especially over Taiwan’s security and international space.’
Both sides should not ‘mutually deny’ each other’s existence, he added.
The Chinese envoy did not give a speech and made only a few remarks to Mr Ma as he presented the Taiwanese leader with a painting of a horse. Mr Ma’s name means ‘horse’ in Chinese.
Mr Chen, who wraps up his visit today, cancelled an evening press conference as the number of protesters swelled.
The Chinese envoy has been dogged by hostile and slogan-chanting protesters since he arrived here on Monday.
The protesters, mainly DPP supporters, accuse Mr Ma of selling out Taiwan’s interest and moving too close to China.
Late Wednesday, Mr Chen was trapped in a hotel for hours after hundreds of protesters gathered outside the venue.
The clashes, which turned bloody yesterday, highlight how at least half the population were ‘not emotionally ready’ for Mr Chen’s visit, said National Chengchi University sociology don Ku Chung-hwa.
Another sociologist, who declined to be named, said the high level of police mobilisation also played a part.
‘It’s also the dynamics. The greater the pressure, the greater the reaction.’
Mr Ma chided the DPP for going back on its promise to ensure that protests were peaceful.
DPP chief Tsai Ing-wen hit back, saying that ‘the greatest violence is a government that forces the people to take to the streets’.
A poll on the United Daily News website showed last night that 19,000 respondents held her responsible for the mess, compared to 5,000 who blamed Mr Ma.
Some analysts also put the blame on DPP city councillors hoping to raise their profile ahead of local elections next year.
Mr Chen, who leaves Taipei today, also attended an event to announce an animal swop between Beijing and Taipei. China is offering Taiwan a pair of pandas, while Taiwan offered a mountain goat and spotted deer in exchange.
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