Thousands gather for anti-China rally in Taipei

TAIPEI, Mar 18 (Reuters) Thousands of supporters of Taiwan's pro-independence President Chen Shui-bian today gathered for a ''anti-annexation'' rally to protest China's threat to use force against the self-ruled island.

Organisers say the march is expected to draw a crowd of 100,000 people to mark the first anniversary of China's passage of the Anti-Secession Law that authorises war if Taiwan declares statehood, thereby violating Beijing's ''one China'' policy.

China and Taiwan split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.

With red ballons symbolising Chinese missiles and placards reading ''Protect democracy, Oppose Annexation'', Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said the rally would show the world the Taiwan people's determination to defend their democratic way of life.

Chen, Vice President Annette Lu and Premier Su Tseng-chang are expected to join the marchers, many of who were bused in from all over the island.

Keen to shake off Beijing's claim of sovereignty over the island, the president scrapped a dormant but symbolic Taiwanese body called the National Unification Council, triggering condemnation by China.

Chen likened Taiwan as a rabbit bullied by a raging elephant, China, when he met a group of Taiwan businessmen on Friday.

''China the elephant often goes crazy and tramples upon us, but we are not allowed to struggle, or even yelp in pain,'' Chen said.

Taipei says Beijing had accumulated nearly 800 missiles targeting the island and was adding to its arsenal at a rate of between 75-100 a year.

But for Taiwan's 23 million people, the issue of reunification versus independence has always been tricky. Opinion polls consistently show more than 80 percent of Taiwan people prefer the status quo.

Last week, tens of thousands of opposition supporters, who favour closer ties with China, marched through Taipei to denounce Chen, accusing him of fanning tensions with China.

REUTERS CS RK1210