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Protesters occupy Taiwan parliament over China trade deal | Protesters occupy Taiwan parliament over China trade deal |
(35 minutes later) | |
Hundreds of students and activists opposed to a trade deal with China have occupied Taiwan's parliament and defied police efforts to evict them. | Hundreds of students and activists opposed to a trade deal with China have occupied Taiwan's parliament and defied police efforts to evict them. |
The protesters, who burst into the chamber late on Tuesday, say the agreement with China would hurt Taiwan's economy and leave it vulnerable to pressure from Beijing. | The protesters, who burst into the chamber late on Tuesday, say the agreement with China would hurt Taiwan's economy and leave it vulnerable to pressure from Beijing. |
The deal was signed in June 2013 but has not yet been ratified by MPs. | The deal was signed in June 2013 but has not yet been ratified by MPs. |
It would allow the two to invest more freely in each other's services market. | It would allow the two to invest more freely in each other's services market. |
The protesters moved in after ruling party lawmakers said a review of the pact by a joint committee was concluded. | The protesters moved in after ruling party lawmakers said a review of the pact by a joint committee was concluded. |
"The trade pact must not be approved without careful deliberation and scrutiny in parliament," a student leader was quoted by AFP news agency as saying. | "The trade pact must not be approved without careful deliberation and scrutiny in parliament," a student leader was quoted by AFP news agency as saying. |
The opposition had accused the government of going back on a pledge to review the agreement on a clause-by-clause basis. | The opposition had accused the government of going back on a pledge to review the agreement on a clause-by-clause basis. |
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng on Wednesday called for "calm, reason and self-restraint" and said he hoped the confrontation would be resolved peacefully, Taiwan's Central News Agency said. | |
China is Taiwan's biggest trading partner and in recent years ties between the two have improved. | China is Taiwan's biggest trading partner and in recent years ties between the two have improved. |
The two sides split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, and China regards Taiwan as part of its territory. | The two sides split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, and China regards Taiwan as part of its territory. |
Earlier this year, however, they held their first direct government-to-government talks. In the past, all talks have gone via quasi-official organisations. | Earlier this year, however, they held their first direct government-to-government talks. In the past, all talks have gone via quasi-official organisations. |
They have also signed several trade and investment agreements in recent years - but some fear greater economic integration with China could threaten Taiwan. | They have also signed several trade and investment agreements in recent years - but some fear greater economic integration with China could threaten Taiwan. |
Taiwan's Central News Agency described the occupation of the legislature as "without precedent" and said that crowds had gathered outside the complex. | Taiwan's Central News Agency described the occupation of the legislature as "without precedent" and said that crowds had gathered outside the complex. |