At least 2 million people yesterday joined together to form an island-long human chain to protest China's military threats and to give the world a clear message that the people of Taiwan want peace, not war, organizers of the rally said.
If the number is accurate, it would set a new record for the size of a demonstration in Taiwan. The participants of the human chain linked hands at 2:28pm yesterday and chanted slogans such as "Love Peace. Oppose missiles."
President Chen Shui-bian (
PHOTO: AP
"More than 1 million people have joined hands together to form a democratic great wall. This is a historic attempt by the people to show the world their love for Taiwan and the power that people have to write history with their own hands," Chen said at the rally yesterday.
Chen sent his regards to the participants, saying they had made this event possible, despite the doubts of some that the event would be successful.
Chen said the people of Taiwan had used the mildest, most joyful and dignified way to proclaim their solidarity and determination for peace to the world.
"However, this is just the beginning. We must continue our effort and cast referendum ballots on election day to maintain Taiwan's security," Chen said.
Lee said "seeing a big spectacle like this, in which more than 1 million people have come out to show their love for Taiwan, is the most touching moment I have ever witnessed in my life."
"Such is the power of the people, and this is a victory for the people of Taiwan," Lee said.
Although he appeared to be ailing slightly, Lee said that "the success of the 228 Hand-in-Hand Rally is the people's affirmation of Taiwan's national identity and a rejection of China's missile threats."
The massive human chain began in the north at Hoping Island near Keelung, and stretched 500km through 18 cities and counties in western Taiwan, ending at Changlung in Chiatung township, Pingtung County. The characters for "Hoping" and "Changlung" mean peace and prosperity.
Analyzing the event's influence on Chen's re-election prospects, Cheng Wen-tsan (
"This is also a very big victory for the DPP, as the party has emerged to represent mainstream opinion, as shown by the success of this massive rally. At this moment, we want to ask where the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has been?" Cheng said.
The event also attracted numerous foreign reporters to Taiwan to cover the human chain.
Estonian reporter Mart Laane-mets said "through the event, people feel more and more that they are the bosses of the country, not politicians nor some party."
"When I saw a sign in the rally which said `In 1991, Bush says yes to Baltic States, in 2004, Bush says yes to Taiwan,' I, as a citizen of Estonia, felt very touched and proud and I hope the Baltic experience will be successful for Taiwan as well," Lannemets said.
On Aug. 23, 1989, the three Baltic states, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia formed a 2 million-person human chain covering 600km to protest the former Soviet Union's occupation. Following the human chain protest, the three countries successfully held referendums to declare their independence from Russia.
Related Photos at Taiwan News Page
Also See Stories:
Remembering 228: Human chain bears message of peace
Remembering 228: Kaohsiung County surprises organizers
Remembering 228: Families and dogs bring festive atmosphere to Taipei
Remembering 228: Taipei County forms 22km-long link in the human chain
Remembering 228: Japanese Christians join Indonesians in Tainan County
Hearts and hugs mark blue-camp rally
LONG FLIGHT: The jets would be flown by US pilots, with Taiwanese copilots in the two-seat F-16D variant to help familiarize them with the aircraft, the source said The US is expected to fly 10 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70/72 jets to Taiwan over the coming months to fulfill a long-awaited order of 66 aircraft, a defense official said yesterday. Word that the first batch of the jets would be delivered soon was welcome news to Taiwan, which has become concerned about delays in the delivery of US arms amid rising military tensions with China. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the initial tranche of the nation’s F-16s are rolling off assembly lines in the US and would be flown under their own power to Taiwan by way
OBJECTS AT SEA: Satellites with synthetic-aperture radar could aid in the detection of small Chinese boats attempting to illegally enter Taiwan, the space agency head said Taiwan aims to send the nation’s first low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite into space in 2027, while the first Formosat-8 and Formosat-9 spacecraft are to be launched in October and 2028 respectively, the National Science and Technology Council said yesterday. The council laid out its space development plan in a report reviewed by members of the legislature’s Education and Culture Committee. Six LEO satellites would be produced in the initial phase, with the first one, the B5G-1A, scheduled to be launched in 2027, the council said in the report. Regarding the second satellite, the B5G-1B, the government plans to work with private contractors
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
MISSION: The Indo-Pacific region is ‘the priority theater,’ where the task of deterrence extends across the entire region, including Taiwan, the US Pacific Fleet commander said The US Navy’s “mission of deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific theater applies to Taiwan, Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler told the South China Sea Conference on Tuesday. The conference, organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is an international platform for senior officials and experts from countries with security interests in the region. “The Pacific Fleet’s mission is to deter aggression across the Western Pacific, together with our allies and partners, and to prevail in combat if necessary, Koehler said in the event’s keynote speech. “That mission of deterrence applies regionwide — including the South China Sea and Taiwan,” he