Protesters step up anti-trade pact fight
Print Edition
MORE than 100,000 protesters took to the streets of Taipei, Taiwan’s capital city, yesterday as a two-week campaign against a trade pact with China’s mainland gathered steam.
Crowds dressed in black sat on one blocked boulevard, many carrying plastic or real sunflowers, the symbol of the protest movement.
Several hundred protesters, mainly students, have been occupying Taiwan’s legislature since March 18, supported by thousands outside the building.
They are protesting Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou’s intention to enact a trade deal that would allow Taiwan and mainland service companies in businesses from banking to beauty parlors to open branches or shops in each other’s territory.
The action was sparked by the decision by a lawmaker from Ma’s ruling Kuomintang party to renege on a promised clause-by-clause review of the trade deal, which was signed by both sides last year but is awaiting ratification by Taiwan’s legislative authority.
On Saturday, Ma refused to withdraw the pact, saying it would deeply harm Taiwan’s interests.
“I’m not against free trade, but the government should come up with policies to protect local industries before they open the door,” one protester said.
The pact’s opponents say it would cost Taiwan tens of thousands of jobs because small island businesses would be unable to compete with mainland companies.
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