Thousands in Taiwan call for independence
TAIPEI: Thousands of Taiwan independence campaigners took to the streets yesterday for a major rally that is a rebuke to Beijing and a challenge to the island’s embattled government.
The protest here came as China pushes its claim to the self-ruling island and President Tsai Ingwen struggles to appease Beijing and independence factions.
It was the first large-scale protest calling for an outright independence vote since Taiwan first became a democracy more than 20 years ago.
Organisers claimed a turnout of 80,000.
Demonstrators gathered outside the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) headquarters, chanting slogans and waving flags reading “Independence Referendum”.
“Want Referendum!” and “Oppose Annexation!” the crowd shouted.
Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state, but has never declared independence from the mainland. Beijing has warned it would respond with force if Taiwan tried an official split.
Organised by new group Formosa Alliance, which is backed by two pro-independence former presidents, Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian, the rally called for a vote on whether the island should declare independence.
“Only through holding a referendum can Taiwanese people show to the international community our right to build an independent new country,” said Tsai Wen-li, 63, a retired postal worker who wore a T-shirt reading “Taiwan is my country”.
Engineer Rex Yang, 35, described Taiwan as an “orphan in the international community”.
“Taiwanese want Taiwan to become a country. That is why I stand here today,” he said.