Taiwanese Rally to Demand Independence

Tens of thousands of Taiwanese braved Saturday downpours to join a massive “Say No to China” rally, demanding their island not be swallowed up like Hong Kong but instead be granted a U.N. seat as a new Republic of Taiwan.

“Taiwan is Taiwan, China is China!” rain-drenched protesters thundered in a huge square outside Taipei City Hall. “Taiwan independence!”

The festive throng estimated by police at well over 70,000--one of the biggest in Taiwan history--came out to denounce communist China’s longtime claim to their island and assail the 1984 Sino-British pact by which Hong Kong, without its people’s consent, will be handed to Beijing at midnight Monday.