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SCMP Reporter

Former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian was moved from a detention centre to a hospital yesterday, 108 hours after he went on a hunger strike to protest against his arrest in connection with graft allegations, local media reported.
Mr Chen reportedly  was vomiting, had chest pains and was fainting  at the Tucheng Detention Centre, where he has been in custody since Wednesday evening.
Lee Ta-chu, deputy director of the detention centre, said a prison doctor had recommended Mr Chen's admission  to hospital after examining him.
Mr Lee said the prison doctor had found that Mr Chen's blood pressure, blood sugar level, pulse and body temperature had all fallen to dangerous levels. He also had an irregular heartbeat.
Mr Chen arrived at 8pm at the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital in Panchiao, Taipei county, where he was to be  treated for malnutrition.
Doctors said they would first need to assess his health and would consider  force-feeding him  if it were deemed medically necessary, the Taipei-based China Times reported last night.
Scores of Mr Chen's supporters gathered outside the hospital, chanting 'Go Go Ah Bian [Chen's nickname]'.
The authorities have deployed a large number of police officers around the hospital. There have been no clashes between the two sides.
The former leader of Taiwan had refused to take any food or drink except water since he was detained over suspected graft and money laundering. Prosecutors say they have enough evidence to hold him as they prepare a formal indictment.
Taiwanese law permits suspects to be held for up to four months pending indictment.
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou,  of the ruling Kuomintang party, on Saturday urged Mr Chen to give up his hunger strike.
Mr Chen's wife, Wu Shu-chen,  and his mother  earlier also tried unsuccessfully to persuade the former president to end his protest.
Political analysts said Mr Chen was trying to use the  hunger strike to win sympathy and support from pro-independence forces.
A legal expert who spoke to Taiwan's United Evening News said Mr Chen hoped his hunger strike would mobilise supporters and turn up the heat on Mr Ma's administration and eventually lead to his release.
Mr Chen's office has already announced that it will organise a mass rally on Saturday night,  but Tsai Ing-wen,  chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party of which Mr Chen was once leader, has so far refused to back the rally plan.
Mr Chen, an ardent supporter of Taiwan's formal independence, is being investigated for corruption and money  laundering.
He faced investigation immediately  after he finished eight years in office in May, forcing him to withdraw from his Democratic Progressive Party in disgrace.



Chen admitted to hospital as hunger strike takes its toll