Forces from both sides of the debate on Taiwan’s independence have mobilised in three actions in Taipei since March 12. The so-called Pan-Blue Alliance — led by Taiwan’s former ruling party Kuomintang (KMT) and comprising KMT splinter groups the People First Party and the New Party — led a March 12 action of 100,000 people against Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian’s late-February decision to scrap the 16-year-old National Unification Council, further indication of the government’s declining efforts to seek Taiwan’s unification with China. Chen’s decision also angered Beijing, even though the NUC is a largely symbolic body and has been dormant since Chen took power in 2000. The Pan-Green Alliance, led by Chen’s Democratic Progressive Party, mobilised 170,000 people on March 18 to protest against the “threat of annexation” by China, asserting Taiwan’s 23 million residents’ right to self-determination. The Pan-Blue forces were back on the streets on March 19 for a 20,000-strong rally demanding a new enquiry into the election-eve shooting of Chen two years ago, which was perceived to have helped Chen retain presidency in a tight contest.

From Green Left Weekly, March 29, 2006.
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