Taiwan Marches for Freedom From China

Hundreds of thousands of protesters, young and old, took to the streets of Taiwan yesterday to march against a new Chinese law authorising the use of military force to prevent the island from declaring independence, writes Jonathan Watts .

Many marchers brought children and pets to what was billed as a 'democratic carnival'. Some of the youngsters bared their bottoms which were plastered with anti-missile stickers.

The demonstration will embarrass Beijing, whose increasing economic and military power is undermined by a repressive political system. China has more than 700 missiles aimed at Taiwan.

Chanting 'Oppose war, love Taiwan', marchers congregated outside the presidential palace in Taipei, where they heard speaker after speaker slam China's anti-secession law.

'Taiwan is only a small island, so we must speak out really loud to make the world hear that we are a democracy facing an evil giant,' said Vivian Wang, 38, a restaurant worker who travelled nearly 200 miles by bus to join the march.

'Taiwan is in such a sad position. It's like an international orphan. If we don't stand up and fight, no one will fight for us,' said 23-year-old student Jonathan Lin.

President Chen Shui-bian participated in the march and joined in the chanting but did not give a speech.

The law, which was unanimously passed earlier by China's parliament, permits the use of 'non-peaceful means' to block secessionist moves by Taiwan. Although the legislation is little more than a rehash of previously stated communist party policy, its timing has raised fears of a military confrontation over the Taiwan strait.