Many foreigners joined the protest on Saturday to support the pan-green camp’s views and experience the atmosphere of a local political rally.
The rally was organized by the Democratic Progressive Party, the Taiwan Solidarity Union and a number of pro-localization groups, opposing substandard Chinese products, the “one China” principle, the recognition of Chinese diplomas and President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) pro-China policies. Protesters also accused the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government of incompetence.
Maddalena, an Italian who came to Taiwan four years ago to study Chinese philosophy, said that demonstrations in Taiwan are quite different from those in her native country, where protests against educational reform took place recently.
“Most of the protesters in Italy are young and intellectual, while here we can see many middle-aged and elderly people,” she said in fluent Mandarin, adding that rallies generally had a peaceful atmosphere.
Some foreigners who participated in the protest were sympathetic to its outlook and demands.
A Japanese who works in Taiwan said he joined the rally to express opposition to China, as Japan and Taiwan both have had to deal with unsafe food imports from their giant neighbor and the economic threat posed by China, which has drawn considerable investment from Japanese companies.
He said, however, that in Japan, protest marches are generally organized by nongovernmental associations and that people rally spontaneously, while most protesters in Taiwan seem to be mobilized by political parties.
Kathryn, an Australian who has studied in Taipei for two months, said it would be best for Taiwan to remain independent from China to safeguard its democracy.
The combined effect of the monsoon, the outer rim of Typhoon Fengshen and a low-pressure system is expected to bring significant rainfall this week to various parts of the nation, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The heaviest rain is expected to occur today and tomorrow, with torrential rain expected in Keelung’s north coast, Yilan and the mountainous regions of Taipei and New Taipei City, the CWA said. Rivers could rise rapidly, and residents should stay away from riverbanks and avoid going to the mountains or engaging in water activities, it said. Scattered showers are expected today in central and
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