Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) members in the early hours of yesterday staged a protest outside the presidential residence ahead of China’s scheduled inauguration of the controversial M503 flight route today.
Protesters shouted: “Withdraw the M503 flight route” and “President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), step down.”
Loud screams broke the quiet night near the presidential residence when several men and women holding protest signs arrived by van and motorcycle, and ran toward the entrance gate on Chongqing S Road in Taipei.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Security guards were immediately alerted, with several plainclothes officers rushing to the site of the protest and quickly confronting the participants.
However, as officers tried to gain control of the situation in front of the gate, another group of protesters arrived at the northeastern corner of the presidential residence, spreading red paint on a wall.
More officers rushed from across the street, wielding metal shields and batons.
“We are here to demand that Ma decline to accept China’s inauguration of the M503 flight route, because it is a trap for Taiwan, and Ma is selling out Taiwan’s interests,” TSU Youth director Chang Chao-lin (張兆林) said as he was dragged away by security personnel.
“We call on all Taiwanese to stand up, we should all stand up in protest against Ma,” he added.
Besides clashes with the protesters, there were also minor verbal disputes between military police officers and journalists, as officers initially tried to prohibit journalists from taking pictures of the paint-splattered wall.
A total of 13 protesters were later taken to the nearby Zhongzheng Second Police Precinct Office for interrogation.
Deputy Precinct Chief Yu Tseng-hsiang (于增祥) said the protesters who threw red paint at the presidential residence would be charged with violating the Waste Disposal Act (廢棄物清理法).
Each was fined NT$6,000 for the waste disposal violations. Eight protesters also faced charges of interfering with public functions over the clash, a police officer said.
Presidential Office spokesman Charles Chen (陳以信) condemned the protest as an “act of violence.”
“The Republic of China is a democracy, and Taiwan is a society with the rule of law,” he said. “Any political appeal should be made based on the rule of law, and not surpass the boundary of being peaceful and rational.”
The protesters were released after questioning, and vowed to take further actions if the government does not respond positively to their demands.
TAIWAN PROTECTION MEASURE: US Army General Charles Flynn would not say where in the Asia-Pacific the missiles would be sent, but only that they would arrive in 2024 The US is to send medium-range missiles including the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and Tomahawk to the Asia-Pacific next year to deter a Chinese attack on Taiwan, US military news Web site Defense One reported. The report cited comments US Army General Charles Flynn made during the annual Halifax International Security Forum on Nov. 19. “We have tested them and we have a battery or two of them today,” Flynn was quoted as saying. “In [20]24. We intend to deploy that system in your region. I’m not going to say where and when. But I will just say that we will
UNUSUAL UPTICK: There are more flu-like illnesses in northern China than in the past 3 years, but data from Beijing showed that known pathogens are responsible Responding to an uptick in respiratory illnesses in China, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said it has instructed international airport and port quarantine centers to raise their alert levels, and plans to issue an alert to healthcare practitioners. The number of flu-like illnesses reported in northern China has been increasing for five consecutive weeks, and is higher than the same period in the past three years, CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) said. “According to the WHO’s latest statement, issued yesterday, information provided by Chinese government showed that the illnesses were mainly reported among children, and the illnesses were attributed
LOYALTY: The 10 active and retired soldiers betrayed the nation and its people by leaking and passing on military secrets to China, the High Prosecutors’ Office said Ten former and current military officers were yesterday indicted on charges of spying for China, including two who allegedly filmed themselves pledging loyalty to Beijing. The High Prosecutors’ Office requested life imprisonment for the suspects in light of the severity of the crime. The 10 active-duty and retired officers included members of the 601st Brigade of the Aviation Special Forces comprising attack helicopter squadrons and elite combat units in charge of defending northern Taiwan, including Taipei. The other suspects came from Huadong Defense Command, in charge of defending the eastern coast; Kinmen Defense Command, in charge of defending Kinmen and Matsu; and one
‘OPEN TO DIALOGUE’: Her alliance with Vice President William Lai is based on their commitment to preserve the nation’s freedom and democracy, Hsiao Bi-khim said Taiwan should “trust, but verify” reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) denied that Beijing plans to invade Taiwan in 2027, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told reporters yesterday. “We anticipate and we hope that Chairman Xi Jinping was sincere when he said there was no timetable” for bringing Taiwan under control by force, said Hsiao, who earlier this week resigned as the representative to the US to join the ticket of DPP nominee, Vice President William Lai (賴清德). Borrowing a phrase from former US president Ronald Reagan — which US President Joe Biden also used after