More than 100,000 people in Taiwan have taken to the streets of capital Taipei, to protest against a controversial trade agreement with China.
They carried signs reading “defend democracy, withdraw the trade deal”.
President Ma Ying-jeou insists the deal will bring economic benefits, but campaigners says it will make Taiwan too economically dependent on China.
The protesters expressed support for students who have occupied parliament for two weeks in protest at the deal.
More than 100,000 people have taken to the streets of capital Taipei, to protest against a controversial trade agreement with China
The agreement will allow China and Taiwan to invest more freely in each other’s services markets.
The protesters say it will hurt small businesses and job opportunities for local people, and should be scrapped.
They are also demanding that the government pass a law to monitor all future deals with Beijing.
In recent days, President Ma Ying-jeou has made several concessions, including supporting such a law and agreeing to a line-by-line review of the deal in the legislature.
But he says the pact should not be cancelled, because it will give Taiwanese companies greater access to the Chinese market.
Business groups and others have voiced support for the deal. The governing Kuomintang party says it is determined to ratify it.
The agreement, which was signed in June 2013, has not yet been approved by lawmakers.
China formally regards Taiwan as a part of its territory, despite the island governing itself for six decades.
But China is Taiwan’s biggest trading partner and in recent years ties between the two have improved.
They have signed several trade and investment agreements – but some fear greater economic integration with China could threaten Taiwan.
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Hundreds of Taiwanese students have occupied government headquarters to protest at a trade deal with China.
Police used water cannon and dragged out students one by one, clearing the building by dawn on Monday.
Close to 60 people were arrested and more than 100 hurt, reports said.
The protesters say the agreement with China would hurt Taiwan’s economy and leave it vulnerable to pressure from Beijing.
Another group of students and activists have occupied Taiwan’s parliament since early last week.
The students wants more scrutiny over all future dealings with China, including any trade agreements.
Hundreds of Taiwanese students have occupied government headquarters to protest at a trade deal with China (photo Reuters)
They also want the current deal – which would allow the two sides to invest more freely in each other’s services markets – to be scrapped.
The governing Kuomintang party says it is determined to ratify the deal with Beijing, which it says will boost the economy and create jobs.
China formally regards Taiwan as a part of its territory, despite the island governing itself for six decades.
The protests began early last week after ruling party’s lawmakers said a joint committee had completed its review of the pact, which was signed in June 2013 but has not yet been ratified by lawmakers.
Students broke into the legislature late on Tuesday and have since defied police efforts to evict them, using barricades made of furniture.
On Friday thousands of people rallied to support the students, and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party has also backed them.
On Sunday, President Ma Ying-jeou said that the occupation of parliament broke the law, adding: “I must say that [the pact] is completely for the sake of Taiwan’s economic future.”
Late on Sunday, some protesters pushed past riot police to storm the government headquarters, pulling down barbed wire and using ladders to access second-floor offices.
Violent clashes erupted as police moved to restore order.
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Taiwan’s parliament has been occupied by hundreds of students and activists protesting against a trade deal with China and defying police efforts to evict them.
The protesters, who burst into the chamber late on Tuesday, say the agreement with China would hurt Taiwan’s economy and leave it vulnerable to pressure from Beijing.
The deal was signed in June 2013 but has not yet been ratified by lawmakers.
It would allow the two to invest more freely in each other’s services market.
The protesters moved in after ruling party lawmakers said a review of the pact by a joint committee was concluded.
Taiwan’s parliament has been occupied by hundreds of students and activists protesting against a trade deal with China and defying police efforts to evict them
“The trade pact must not be approved without careful deliberation and scrutiny in parliament,” a student leader was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.
The opposition had accused the government of going back on a pledge to review the agreement on a clause-by-clause basis.
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng on Wednesday called for “calm, reason and self-restraint” and said he hoped the confrontation would be resolved peacefully, Taiwan’s Central News Agency said.
China is Taiwan’s biggest trading partner and in recent years ties between the two have improved.
The two sides split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, and China regards Taiwan as part of its territory.
Earlier this year, however, they held their first direct government-to-government talks. In the past, all talks have gone via quasi-official organizations.
They have also signed several trade and investment agreements in recent years – but some fear greater economic integration with China could threaten Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Central News Agency described the occupation of the legislature as “without precedent” and said that crowds had gathered outside the complex.
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