TAIPEI, Taiwan, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- China reported Tuesday that "hundreds of thousands" of people demonstrated in Taipei demanding the resignation of Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian.
Referring to the beleaguered president as "a local leader," China's official Xinhua news agency said protesters wore red clothes and red caps at the rally, which also marked Taiwan's National Day.
Chen has been facing mounting allegations of corruption in his government.
The rally was led by Shih Ming-teh, who, according to Taiwanese media, had called for 2 million people to "besiege" the presidential building.
Separately, the China Times reported China had canceled vacations for troops at two military regions across the Taiwan Strait. It said in the event the Taiwan rally gets out of hand, the Chinese troops were likely to shield off possible intervention from the United States or Japan to allow Taiwanese to work out the problems themselves.
The Taipei Times reported that Taiwan's Premier Su Tseng-chang said he and other Cabinet members would participate in National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Office. Chen was expected to attend.
