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Taiwan crowd besieges China envoy Taiwan crowd besieges China envoy
(10 minutes 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 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.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. The BBC's Cindy Sui, who is at the scene, says vehicles with tinted windows leaving the hotel were spat and yelled at.
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. She says the protesters wore yellow ribbons that read "Taiwan is my country".
On Thursday he is to meet Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou. Some shouted "Ma Ying-jeou step down", blaming the Taiwanese president for allowing the landmark talks during Mr Chen's visit.
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.
"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.
Mr Chen is the most senior Chinese official to visit Taiwan in decades.
The envoy is spending five days in Taiwan and has already signed historic agreements to improve direct trade and transport links between the two sides.
He is due to meet President Ma on Thursday.
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.