Pro-independence activists stage protest at airport as mainland official visits Taiwan

Taiwanese shouting anti-communist slogans staged an airport protest on Monday against a visit by a top Shanghai official which they see as intended to promote China’s unification with Taiwan.

Sha Hailin, a standing committee member of the Communist Party in the city and head of the United Front Work Department in China’s commercial capital, is the highest-level mainlander to visit since cross-strait ties worsened under Taiwan’s new government.

He arrived in Taipei for an annual forum on municipal exchanges as protesters shouted “Sha, go back to China!” at the capital’s Songshan airport.

Dozens of demonstrators waved placards reading “Expel propaganda communist, defend Taiwan’s sovereignty” and “[Taipei mayor] Ko Wen-je sells out Taiwan”. Some supporters also rallied outside the airport with welcome signs.

While most demonstrators were cordoned off, one man holding a poster got into the airport arrivals hall and shouted “Sha Hailin, get out!” as Sha walked by. The protester scuffled briefly with policemen before he was taken away.

Sha, who heads the visiting delegation in place of Shanghai Mayor Yang Xiong, made no comment to reporters but waved to supporters.