Protesters reject cross-strait exchange

A group of protesters denounced a two-day economic forum between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party starting in Beijing Friday as "selling out Taiwan", the South China Morning Post reported. About 100 protesters from three pro-independence groups gathered Wednesday in front of the KMT office ahead of the departure Thursday of a 170-strong delegation, led by honorary KMT chairman Lien Chan. Lien will meet President Hu Jintao before the president heads to Washington for talks with his US counterpart, George W. Bush. Pro-independence activists said it was unthinkable for Lien to represent Taiwan at the forum and team up with the "enemy". It will be Lien's second meeting with Hu, following talks in Beijing last April when the two developed a five-point proposal to advance cross-strait peace, co-operation and economic ties.