Taiwanese shouting anti-communist slogans staged protests at an airport and a school 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 there, 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 Hailin, 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 being taken away. Scores of protesters rallied again when Sha visited a high school to open a sports festival and played table tennis with Taiwanese students.