TAIWAN PROTESTERS DIG IN OVER CHINATRADE BILL
TAIPEI, March 21(Reuters) - Thousands of young people in Taiwan waved banners and shouted slogans on Friday, marking the third day of their occupation of parliament to protest against a trade pact with China they fear could further swell Beijing's economic influence.
Parliamentary approval of the pact would pave the way for greater economic integration between the two former geopolitical foes, by opening 80 of China's service sectors to Taiwan and 64 Taiwan sectors to China.
Protesters demanding a presidential audience and brandishing sunflowers as a symbol of hope flooded parliament and the surrounding streets.
They held up signs opposing both the pact on trade in services with mainland China, the island's biggest export desti- nation, and what they called the undemocratic methods used to push the bill over an initial legislative hurdle.
"We oppose the abuse of power by a small political body to ram through this bill," said college student Blink Lin, 25, one of hundreds of protesters crowding the floor of parliament.
The protesters had used chairs to blockade the chamber doors, and strung its walls with posters condemning President Ma Ying-jeou.
They have called it a precondition for Taiwan to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a wide-ranging trade deal among 12 countries, spearheaded by the United States.