Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) announced Friday it was to hold a three-day sit-in protest against the planned visit of top Chinese negotiator with Taiwan, Chen Yunlin, reported dpa.
The announcement came as a group of Chinese officials arrived in Taiwan Friday to prepare for Chen's November 3-7 visit, who was to hold talks with his Taiwanese counterpart Chiang Pin-kung on cross-strait transport, postal and food safety cooperation.
"Beginning from November 3, all people are invited to wear the yellow ribbons and join us in a sit-in protest outside the parliament building for three days to jointly safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty," the DPP said in a statement posted on its website.
China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949, but Beijing still considers Taiwan an integral part of the mainland that must be brought back into its fold, if necessary by force.
Chen's visit, making him the highest-ranking Chinese official ever to come to in Taiwan, is viewed by the DPP and other pro-independence groups as China's attempt to exercise its sovereignty on the island.
The visit by Chen, was made possible after President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May and adopted a policy to engage China and to liberalize cross-strait exchanges.
His policy has irked the DPP and other pro-independence groups, which believe Ma of the China-friendly Nationalist Party would one day hand Taiwan back to China.
Last Saturday, the DPP rallied half a million supporters to protest against Ma's China engagement policy and his government's failure in lifting the sagging economy.