Protest groups face off in Taiwan over curriculum controversy

More than 1,000 supporters of student movement turn out after infamous Taiwan triad leader Chang An-lo, who has called for unification with the mainland, leads rival rally

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Pro-China activist Chang An-lo, a former triad boss also known as "White Wolf", takes part in a protest on Wednesday against students occupying the entrance to Taiwan's Ministry of Education in Taipei. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:45am, 6 Aug 2015Updated: 8:57pm, 9 Aug 2015

More than a thousand protesters from rival groups rallied in Taiwan’s capital on Wednesday night with the triad-leader-turned-politician, “White Wolf”, heading an anti-student demonstration.

At least 100 students have been camped out at the education ministry in Taipei for six days to protest over controversial changes to the high school curriculum they say favour China’s view of the island’s history.

It comes as public concern is growing, especially among the young, at a perceived increase in mainland China’s influence over the island.

This comes in the wake of a rapprochement with Beijing forged by current President Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang (KMT) party.

Smaller protests have been taking place for months, but escalated after the suicide last week of a student activist who opposed the curriculum, with hundreds storming the ministry compound on Friday.

Protesters chant slogans as they march against changes to the school curriculum outside the Taiwan's Ministry of Education in Taipei on Wednesday. Photo: Associated Press

More than 1,000 supporters of the student movement turned out on Wednesday night after the infamous Taiwan triad leader Chang An-lo, known as “White Wolf”, who has called for unification with the mainland, announced he would lead a rival demonstration.