bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Lawrence  Chung

The student-led protest in Taiwan opposing a services trade pact with the mainland will end on Thursday, after demonstrators pledged to leave the parliament building they have occupied since March 18.
The planned departure was welcomed by Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, whose decision to have the pact reviewed and ratified by the legislature before the end of June sparked one of the island's biggest protests.
Ma insisted on the pact review, noting that it was confirmed by the caucuses of both the ruling and opposition parties and that it represented the will of the majority.

Claiming the pact would threaten jobs and endanger the island's democracy, some 200 students stormed the legislature.
Legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng vowed on Sunday to press for the enactment of an oversight bill, hoping to persuade students to leave the premises.
His pledge, in line with students' demands, was perceived as a goodwill gesture, and rally leaders announced at a news conference last night they would end the three-week protest.
"We call on all protest supporters to gather at the legislature on Thursday at 6pm to leave parliament with us," said Chen Wei-ting, a student leader.

Chen said the action showed the people of Taiwan understood they "no longer needed to be restrained by the old political establishment".
With four of their demands already met or pending, Chen said they decided to leave the building so the protests - dubbed the "sunflower" movement by local media - would not alienate the majority.
The students had demanded a new oversight bill to safeguard the interests of Taiwan in any agreement with the mainland.
Lin Fei-fan, another student leader, said students were willing to take legal responsibility for the occupation.

In a meeting with Kuomintang legislators yesterday evening, Ma said the decision to end the occupation "meets the expectation of the majority of the public".
Calling for unity among the people of Taiwan, Ma said he had responded to the demands of the students, including their early calls for a meeting.
Yang Lixian, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Taiwan Studies, said the students' decision to leave the legislature would indefinitely delay the trade pact between Taiwan and the mainland.
"This will make any future pacts between Taiwan and the mainland difficult to be approved, which will take a toll on cross-strait relations," she said.
Additional reporting by Li Jing


Taiwan protesters agree to end parliament occupation after talks with speaker

Leaders of the student protesters said yesterday they would withdraw from the legislature's main chamber at 6pm on Thursday. Photo: CNA

Student leaders announced to bring their three-week protest to a peaceful end. Photo: CNA

Protesters take pictures in front of a portrait of Sun Yat-sen during a demonstration at Taiwan's parliament in Taipei. Photo: AFP

Student leaders speak to students occupying the parliament building in Taipei on Sunday. While organisers of the protest are considering ending the rallies, radical groups are reportedly refusing to back down. Photo: AFP

Student protesters hold discussions inside the occupied legislature in Taipei on Sunday. Their numbers have dwindled to dozens compared to 200 at its peak. Photo: AP

Taiwan's Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (right) greets protesters inside the parliament chamber on Sunday. Photo: EPA

Taipei mayoral hopeful Sean Lien distances self from president Ma Ying-jeou over student protests

Sean Lien announces his mayoral bid in Taipei. Photo: CNA

Sean Lien gives a press conference in Taipei on February 24, 2014. Photo: CNA 

Economists blame Taiwan protests on fears of Beijing 'annexation'

Riot police detain a protester near the Cabinet compound in Taipei after an attempt by protesters to seize the government headquarters. Photo: EPA

A young man taunts riot police as they disperse protesters from the Cabinet compound in Taipei, Taiwan. Photo: EPA

Police use a water cannon to disperse a demonstrator during a protest against a trade pact with mainland China. Photo: Reuters

Direct action used in Taiwan protest too risky for Hong Kong, academic warns

Student protester hold a rally outside the parliament as demonstrations against a trade agreement with China continue in Taipei. Photo: AFP

News

China

Protesters' decision to end three-week stand-off comes after parliamentary speaker agrees to prioritise supervision bill for cross-strait deals


The student-led protest in Taiwan opposing a services trade pact with the mainland will end on Thursday, after demonstrators pledged to leave the parliament building they have occupied since March 18.


Update | Taiwan protesters agree to end parliament occupation after talks with speaker

Protesters' decision to end three-week stand-off comes after parliamentary speaker agrees to prioritise supervision bill for cross-strait deals