From Reuters, via Khaleej Times (link):
Chanting “Oppose missiles, Want peace”, more than 100,000 supporters of Taiwan’s pro-independence President Chen Shui-bian joined a rally on Saturday to protest China’s threat to use force against the self-ruled island.
The rally, organised by Chen’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), marked the first anniversary of China’s passage of the Anti-Secession Law that authorises war if Taiwan declares statehood, thereby violating Beijing’s “one China” policy.China and Taiwan split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.
With red balloons symbolising Chinese missiles, the DPP said the huge crowd showed the world the Taiwan people’s determination to defend a democratic way of life.
“Taiwan is not part of China and China should stop threatening us with its missiles and with its bullets,” said Song Wen-ling, a 60-year-old retiree.
