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China official ends turbulent Taiwan trip
2008-11-07
TAIPEI - A Chinese official left Taiwan on Friday after a turbulent visit that produced landmark trade agreements but also sparked angry protests by thousands opposed to China's claim of sovereignty over the self-ruled island. Chen Yunlin, China's top negotiator on Taiwan affairs, completed the highest-level visit to the island by a Communist leader since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, Reuters reported. His visit, which included deals to open new trade and transit links and a brief meeting with President Ma Ying-jeou, eased official ties between two sides that had in the past come to the brink of war in one of Asia's most dangerous flashpoints. But protests from thousands of anti-China demonstrators dogged Chen almost every step of his visit illustrating the obstacles that remain in the way of a rapprochement. Beijing's shift to charm diplomacy came after new leadership took power on the island under China-friendly Ma and recent Taiwan investment of about $100 billion in China. "Economically, the two sides, Taiwan and China, have become integrated into possibly one entity in the future," said Raymond Wu, a political risk consultant in Taipei. China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists (KMT) fled to the island. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary. "We believe the road ahead is still very long," Chen said before leaving. "We expect to find this and that difficulty, but we will overcome those to fulfil expectations of compatriots of both sides." Ma remains under pressure at home to be politically tough on China while improving the island's sagging economy by getting a piece of the other side's booming markets. Demonstrators gathered hours after Chen's arrival on Monday to caution Ma against getting too cozy with China. Taiwan's main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, which backed the island's anti-China president from 2000 to 2008, organized a rowdy street demonstration on Thursday as Ma met Chen, who angered many by calling Ma "you" instead of "president" -- not recognizing him as head of state. At least 10,000 people filled streets, some lobbing eggs and trying to break through police barriers. "My estimate is that they represent at least a quarter of the population," said Alex Chiang, associate politics professor at National Cheng Chi University in Taipei. Through much of the night, hundreds of riot police used batons and a water cannon to fend off groups of protesters who threw rocks, bottles and trash at them outside Chen's hotel. Some also wrecked barriers to seek entry to the hillside venue. Dozens were injured in the scuffles, local TV said. Opposition party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen, a former vice premier seen as a unifier within her divided camp, rejected any ties to the Thursday night clashes, which were fueled largely by publicity-seeking local politicians, students and passers-by. The protests fizzled on Friday morning.
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