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- May 7, 2010
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Taiwan riot police unleashed water cannon Monday to dislodge hundreds of demonstrators who had stormed government headquarters in violent scenes that dramatically escalated a days-old protest against a trade pact with China.
After nearly a week-long occupation of Taiwan's parliament, the protesters late Sunday also infiltrated the Executive Yuan where the cabinet is located, pulling down barbed-wire barricades outside and using ladders to break into offices on the second floor.
The assault came after President Ma Ying-jeou refused to back down on the trade pact, which he argues is vital for Taiwan's economic future, rejecting opposition claims that he is effectively handing the island over to Chinese control after six decades of political separation.
Source: AFP
Of course, if these kids knew any better, they would avoid such provocations. The greater the risk they pose to the functioning of the government, the greater the chances of violence and thus the greater the chance of giving China an "in" to finally retake the island. At that point all their protesting against measured increases in Chinese influence will just seem rather foolish.