Update | Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou to address public as student protesters dig in
Island’s president will press case for cross-strait trade pact as sit-in of parliament enters day six
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou will address the island's public for the first time today on the crisis triggered by opposition to a cross-strait trade pact.
Protesters have been occupying the parliament building in Taipei since Tuesday.
The presidential office announced yesterday that Ma would hold a press conference this morning to "address public doubts and opinions about the cross-strait service and trade pact", as well as the significance and necessity of such a pact.
Since the student protesters occupied the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday night, Ma has only issued statements through his office, despite repeated calls by protesters to meet him.
The announcement of the press conference followed a meeting of Ma and his top aides, including Premier Dr Jiang Yi-huah and Vice-President Wu Den-yih, at his residence last night. But the Central New Agency reported that Ma would not withdraw the pact.