An anti-arms procurement alliance staged a protest outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday, in an effort to counter a march organized to support the long-stalled arms procurement plan.
The protest, organized by the Anti-Arms Procurement Alliance, ended peacefully, although emotions were high when the pro-arms procurement march approached the front door of the legislative compound at Zhongshan S Road and Jinan Road.
The two groups were separated by barricades and police officers to prevent them from engaging in a physical clash. The protests then turned into a shouting match with both sides trying hard to drown out the other with their slogans.
Chanting "cross-strait peace, no arms procurement" and "US president, sell out Taiwan," about 200 people gathered outside the front door of the Legislative Yuan on Zhongshan S Road yesterday afternoon.
Some wore a yellow banner reading "oppose arms-procurement plan, save Taiwan" on their foreheads, while some held placards reading "no more financial burdens for our children" and "respect public opinion, reject review of the arms-procurement plan."
The protest was followed by an evening concert on the south side of the legislative compound on Jinan Road.
Earlier yesterday morning, the Democratic Action Alliance held a forum to discuss the relationship between the arms procurement plan, cross-strait peace and national development.
People First Party (PFP) Vice Chairman Chang Chao-hsiung (張昭雄), who delivered the opening speech of the forum, reiterated his party's strong opposition to the arms procurement package, saying that he is willing to put his position on the line to ensure that party members would toe the party line on the matter.
"There's no such a thing as a `reasonable' or `unreasonable' arms procurement plan. All arms procurement plans are unreasonable," he said. "No one is the winner of any war, and peace can only be obtained via peaceful means although I admit it is rather hard."
Chang warned Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
"I am here to solemnly swear that the PFP will never agree to allow the arms procurement bill to reach the legislature's National Defense Committee for review," he said. "It is the last frontier we are committed to protect."
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
He emphasized that he will remain "politically neutral" and will handle the matter in accordance with due legislative procedure.
Despite the PFP's robust opposition, Wang said that he will continue to negotiate with the legislative caucuses. Wang is scheduled to call an inter-party meeting today to discuss whether to invite Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and other government officials to brief the lawmaking body on the controversial bill.
Although no arrangement has yet been made to meet PFP Chairman James Soong (
Former DPP Chairman Hsu Hsin-liang (
"Times have changed so much that it is possible to protect the nation without launching a war," he said. "It is, however, very difficult to convince some people to accept the idea, especially in the face of China's military threat."
In a bid to let more people understand the controversial issue, Hsu proposed to hold large-scale and full-fledged debates.
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