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Taiwan crowd besieges China envoy | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Demonstrators have surrounded a hotel in the Taiwanese capital to protest against a visit by a top-ranking Chinese negotiator. | Demonstrators have surrounded a hotel in the Taiwanese capital to protest against a visit by a top-ranking Chinese negotiator. |
Several hundred protesters gathered at Taipei's Formosa Regent hotel as the envoy from Beijing, Chen Yunlin, was attending a dinner. | Several hundred protesters gathered at Taipei's Formosa Regent hotel as the envoy from Beijing, Chen Yunlin, was attending a dinner. |
The Associated Press news agency said Mr Chen managed to leave the hotel after riot police dispersed the crowd. | |
The protesters fear closer ties with China, which claims Taiwan its own. | |
'Chinese bandit' | 'Chinese bandit' |
Mr Chen is the most senior Chinese official to visit Taiwan in decades. | |
Mr Chen is spending five days in Taiwan and has already signed landmark agreements to improve direct trade and transport links between the two sides. | Mr Chen is spending five days in Taiwan and has already signed landmark agreements to improve direct trade and transport links between the two sides. |
On Thursday he is to meet Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou. | On Thursday he is to meet Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou. |
But his visit has sparked demonstrations from pro-independence supporters. | But his visit has sparked demonstrations from pro-independence supporters. |
Late on Wednesday, around 800 angry protesters burned Chinese flags and shouted slogans as Mr Chen remained trapped inside the hotel. | Late on Wednesday, around 800 angry protesters burned Chinese flags and shouted slogans as Mr Chen remained trapped inside the hotel. |
"China is China. Taiwan is Taiwan. We have a Chinese bandit on our territory and we need to resist," one protester told Reuters news agency. | "China is China. Taiwan is Taiwan. We have a Chinese bandit on our territory and we need to resist," one protester told Reuters news agency. |
Lines of riot police prevented demonstrators from getting into the hotel. | Lines of riot police prevented demonstrators from getting into the hotel. |
China claims sovereignty over Taiwan though they have been separately governed since 1949. | China claims sovereignty over Taiwan though they have been separately governed since 1949. |