Taiwan has hundreds of thousands protesting China trade pact

Hundreds of thousands of student-led protesters dressed in black gathered along Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office in a protest over President Ma Ying-jeou and the Cross-Strait Trade in Services Agreement.

Student activist Lin Fei-fan claimed over 500,000 people attended the rally, while protesters outside of the Legislative Yuan claimed that they numbered over 700,000 people. The National Police Agency (NPA), however, estimated the number of protesters to be 116,000.

While addressing the crowds at Ketagalan Boulevard, Lin said the demonstration yesterday was not an end but a start, noting that people should exchange contact information with the person standing next to them and arrange working rosters so people can take turn to go to the Legislative Yuan.

Lin said the reason why the protesters occupied the Legislative Yuan was because the administration has lost its legitimacy.

Lin reiterated the protesters' four demands of the Ma administration:

1. Rejection of the Cross-Strait Trade in Services Agreement
2. Introduction of the Bill on Pacts between Taiwan and China — a draft bill proposed to supervise the signing of agreements with China
3. Urging the government to hold a “public constitutional meeting,”
4. Demanding all lawmakers listen and stand by people's side.


Thousands of protesters rally on March 30, 2014 in Taipei, Taiwan. (Lam Yik Fei/Getty Images)

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