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A walk in the sun for `Taiwan'

A crowd of 100,000 people walk past the South Gate in Taipei yesterday to campaign for rectifying the name of Taiwan. PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG AND SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

On the square parents were busy tending to their kids and a man was taking his dogs on a leisurely walk. It was like a weekend outing in the park, but with 100,000 companions.

Despite the blazing sun, for more than two hours people kept pouring into the square in front of the Presidential Office to participate in the Campaign for Rectifying the Name of Taiwan.

Many people wore purple headbands and were dressed in T-shirts with the slogan "Rectifying Taiwan's Name -- Taiwan is the Name of Our Country." Mobile billboards with slogans like "Republic of Taiwan" and "ROC is dead" were seen everywhere and shouts of "Taiwanese" and "Taiwan as a nation" were heard all around.

"Foreigners know about Taiwan, but nothing about the Republic of China," said Chen Tsun-hsing (陳春興), a middle-aged man who lives in Austin, Texas. Chen said he came back from the US specifically to join in the march. He got off the plane the night before and immediately drove to his hometown, Changhua, to pick up his mother. He again left for Taipei at four in the morning. Chen still looked excited and full of spirit despite the little rest he had the night before.

A demonstrator puts stickers on his face reading ``Taiwan as a nation'' to show his support for changing the name of Taiwan.

"I had a few friends in business who often had problems when they went to countries that had little knowledge about Taiwan and customs officials fussed over their passports. It is really necessary to rectify Taiwan's name," Chen said.

Chen was not alone. There were more expatriates who returned home specifically to support the campaign. Many said that living abroad made them realize the necessity of calling Taiwan by its proper name.

An aged woman, who fainted earlier during the march yesterday because of the hot weather, prays for the success of the campaign as medical workers move her into an ambulance.

Lin Po-yu (林柏佑), a 30-year-old working in Japan, said he arrived the day before and was going back to Japan today.

"My experiences abroad helped me discover the importance of rectifying Taiwan's name. For instance, when I took my passport to apply for credit cards, the bank clerks discriminated against me because they thought I was from China," he said.

A participant in the demonstration throws darts at a poster of former Chinese president Jiang Zemin.

Pan Shui-ching (潘水清), an instructor at a technical college who showed up at the march with his wife and children, had also had a few unpleasant experiences with the troublesome name.

"When I was studying abroad, my classmates from Tanzania and Malaysia would sneer at me saying that Taiwan was not a country," Pan said.

"Besides, when my foreign friends watched the opening of the Sydney Olympics on TV, they tried to look for "Taiwan." But they could not find it because we used the name "Chinese Taipei" and they did not know it was Taiwan."

A man places self-made models of Taiwan on his wide-brimmed hat to show his firm support for the Campaign for Rectifying the Name of Taiwan.

The efforts to rectify the country's name also attracted foreign support.

A big group of Japanese joined in the march, waving and chanting "Cheers Taiwan!" in Chinese.

"Taiwan's independence is necessary for security in the region," said Shinya Goto, a Japanese student of philosophy at Soochow University.

"If Taiwan is forced to merge with China, China may next want to claim Okinawa from Japan, which is quite worrying. So Taiwan's independence is good for Japan, too," he said.

There were also a few Caucasian faces in the march.

"In reality Taiwan is already an independent country and people are basically marching for what already exists. What is lacking now is international recognition" said Andy, an American who has been living in Taiwan for more than four years. He said that he supported the cause and went to the march on his own initiative.

While the campaign attracted a huge crowd, not many local college students were to be seen. Elderly men from rural areas were the dominant figures in the march, thanks to the DPP and TSU's mobilization of their members from the central and southern parts of Taiwan.

"I love Taiwan because I grew up in this country. This is a good effort so I am standing up to voice my support," said Lin An-lu (林安祿), a college student and a Christian mobilized by the Presbyterian Church.

When the 80-year-old former President Lee Teng-hui gave his speech on a stage in front of the Presidential Office, people gathered and listened attentively.

But this may also be the time to ponder whether the ideals of older citizens are equally important to the youth, who are the ones with the power to make the elusive dream come true.

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